Preparation of Titanium Metal Matrix Composites Using Additive Manufacturing

Abstract:

In this work, the “4M-System” (Machine for Multi-Material-Manufacturing) has been developed by RHP Technology for the manufacturing of Titanium Metal Matrix Composites. This equipment allows the Additive Layer Manufacturing (ALM) of large structures and uses a Plasma Transferred Arc (PTA) as a heat source for depositing feedstocks (powder/wire) layer by layer onto a substrate. Test coupons, made of Titanium powders and having different concentrations of B₄C particles, were deposited to form Metal Matrix Composites. Various processing parameters such as deposition rate, travel speed of the torch as well as plasma parameters (power/current/gas flow) were assessed for getting pore- and crack-free samples. After deposition, the specimens were cut and the cross-sections were analysed by optical- and scanning electron microscopy. Furthermore, the hardness, Young’s Modulus, and tensile strength were measured. Ti-Metal Matrix Composite materials resulted in higher strength and Young´s Modulus in comparison to the pure Ti-metal matrix. Using the 4M-System, B₄C particle reinforced Ti-MMC’s were successfully manufactured. Thus the 4M-System proved the capability of joining multi-material concepts, which also promises to create graded concentrations of reinforcement in the material.

• Periodical: Key Engineering Materials (Volume 742)
• Pages: 129-136
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/KEM.742.129
• Online since: July 2017
• Authors: Lilla Vály*, David Grech, Erich Neubauer, Michael Kitzmantel, Ľuboš Bača, Nils Stelzer
• Keywords: Additive Manufacturing, Boron Carbide, Metal Matrix Composite (MMC), Plasma Transferred Arc, Titanium

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