In situ experimental study on fracture toughness and damage mechanism of TiB2-reinforced steel matrix composites
Ronghua Chen
State Key Laboratory of Advanced Design and Manufacturing for Vehicle Body, College of Mechanical and Vehicle Engineering, Hunan University, Changsha, China
Search for more papers by this authorWeipeng Li
State Key Laboratory of Advanced Design and Manufacturing for Vehicle Body, College of Mechanical and Vehicle Engineering, Hunan University, Changsha, China
Search for more papers by this authorBochuan Li
State Key Laboratory of Advanced Design and Manufacturing for Vehicle Body, College of Mechanical and Vehicle Engineering, Hunan University, Changsha, China
Search for more papers by this authorCorresponding Author
Chao Jiang
State Key Laboratory of Advanced Design and Manufacturing for Vehicle Body, College of Mechanical and Vehicle Engineering, Hunan University, Changsha, China
Correspondence
Chao Jiang, State Key Laboratory of Advanced Design and Manufacturing for Vehicle Body, College of Mechanical and Vehicle Engineering, Hunan University, Changsha 410082, China.
Email: [email protected]
Search for more papers by this authorRonghua Chen
State Key Laboratory of Advanced Design and Manufacturing for Vehicle Body, College of Mechanical and Vehicle Engineering, Hunan University, Changsha, China
Search for more papers by this authorWeipeng Li
State Key Laboratory of Advanced Design and Manufacturing for Vehicle Body, College of Mechanical and Vehicle Engineering, Hunan University, Changsha, China
Search for more papers by this authorBochuan Li
State Key Laboratory of Advanced Design and Manufacturing for Vehicle Body, College of Mechanical and Vehicle Engineering, Hunan University, Changsha, China
Search for more papers by this authorCorresponding Author
Chao Jiang
State Key Laboratory of Advanced Design and Manufacturing for Vehicle Body, College of Mechanical and Vehicle Engineering, Hunan University, Changsha, China
Correspondence
Chao Jiang, State Key Laboratory of Advanced Design and Manufacturing for Vehicle Body, College of Mechanical and Vehicle Engineering, Hunan University, Changsha 410082, China.
Email: [email protected]
Search for more papers by this authorFunding information: Fundamental Research Program of China, Grant/Award Number: JCKY2020110C105; Foundation for Innovative Research Groups of the National Natural Science Foundation of China, Grant/Award Number: 51621004; National Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars, Grant/Award Number: 51725502
Abstract
It is crucial to obtain better fracture property of particle-reinforced metal matrix composites (PRMMCs) for application in structural parts. In this study, three-point bending tests are conducted on a TiB2-reinforced steel matrix composites (SMCs) with 9% and 13% TiB2 volume fractions to understand the effect of hot rolling and particle content on fracture toughness. Results show that increasing particle content has a negative effect on the fracture toughness of SCMs as a whole. Many microcracks induced by large-size particle fracture initiate in the front of crack tip and coalesce with one another are observed, thus accelerating the main crack propagation. However, hot rolling can effectively improve the fracture toughness and hardness of SMCs with two particle contents. Particle characteristics and matrix plasticity of the SMCs are optimized by hot rolling, which finally enhances the crack propagation resistance. The present work provides guiding suggestions for effectively improving fracture properties of PRMMCs.
CONFLICTS OF INTEREST
The authors declare no conflict of interest.
Open Research
DATA AVAILABILITY STATEMENT
The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.
REFERENCES
- 1Lease KB, Stephens RI, Jiang YY, Kurath P. Fatigue of a particulate reinforced aluminium metal matrix composite subjected to axial, torsional and combined axial/torsional loading conditions. Fatigue Fract Eng Mater Struct. 1996; 19(8): 1031-1043.
- 2Makarov PV, Bakeev RA, Peryshkin AY, Zhukov AS, Ziatdinov MK, Promakhov VV. Modelling of the deformation and destruction of a TiNi-TiB2 metal-ceramic composite fabricated by direct laser deposition. Eng Fract Mech. 2019; 222:106712.
- 3Chawla N, Shen YL. Mechanical behavior of particle reinforced metal matrix composites. Adv Eng Mater. 2001; 3(6): 357-370.
- 4Kim BG, Dong SL, Su DP. Effects of thermal processing on thermal expansion coefficient of a 50 vol.% SiCp/Al composite. Mater Chem Phys. 2001; 72: 42-47.
- 5Chantziara E, Lentzaris K, Lekatou AG, Karantzalis AE. Sliding wear and solid particle erosion response of aluminium reinforced with tungsten carbide nanoparticles and aluminide particles. Fatigue Fract Eng Mater Struct. 2019; 42(7): 1548-1562.
- 6Bonnet F, Bouaziz O, Chevallot JC. Patent EP 1 897 963 A1. European Patent Office; 2008.
- 7Rana R, Liu C. Effects of ceramic particles and composition on elastic modulus of low density steels for automotive applications. Can Metall Quart. 2014; 53: 300-316.
- 8Munro RG. Material properties of titanium diboride. J Res Natl Inst Stand Technol. 2000; 105: 709-720.
- 9Cha LM, Lartigue-Korinek S, Walls M, Mazerolles L. Interface structure and chemistry in a novel steel-based composite Fe-TiB2 obtained by eutectic solidification. Acta Mater. 2012; 60: 6382-6389.
- 10Lartigue-Korinek S, Walls M, Haneche N, Cha LM, Mazerolles L, Bonnet F. Interface and defects in a successfully hot-rolled steel-based composite Fe-TiB2. Acta Mater. 2015; 98: 297-305.
- 11Huang MX, He BB, Wang X, Yi HL. Interfacial plasticity of a TiB2-reinforced steel matrix composite fabricated by eutectic solifification. Scr Mater. 2015; 99: 13-16.
- 12Li YZ, Huang MX. Revealing the interfacial plasticity and shear strength of a TiB2-strengthened high-modulus low-density steel. J Mech Phys Solids. 2018; 121: 313-327.
- 13Hadjem-Hamouche Z, Derrien K, Heripre E, Chevalier JP. In-situ experimental and numerical studies of the damage evolution and fracture in a Fe-TiB2 composite. Mater Sci Eng A. 2018; 724: 594-605.
- 14Li YZ, Luo ZC, Yi HL, Huang MX. Damage mechanisms of a TiB2-reinforced steel matrix composite for lightweight automotive application. Metall Mater Trans E. 2016; 3: 203-208.
- 15Chen RH, Li BC, Li YZ, Wang XG, Jiang C, Huang MX. Influences of particle fraction and characteristics on damage tolerance of TiB2-reinforced steel matrix composites. Mater Sci Eng A. 2021; 823:141736.
- 16Dorhmi K, Derrien K, Hadjem-Hamouche Z, Morin L, Bonnet F, Chevalier J-P. Experimental study and micromechanical modelling of the effective elastic properties of Fe-TiB2 composites. Compos Struct. 2021; 272:114122.
- 17Zhang L, Huang MX, Zhang DQ, Wang EG. Effect of rare-earth elements on microstructure and mechanical properties of in-situ Fe-TiB2 composites. Mater Today Commun. 2021; 29:102860.
- 18Chen RH, Li BC, Li YZ, et al. Revealing the fatigue crack initiation mechanism of a TiB2-reinforced steel matrix composite. Int J Fatig. 2020; 130:105276.
- 19Li BC, Xu K, Chen RH, et al. On the fatigue crack propagation mechanism of a TiB2-reinforced high-modulus steel. Compos Part B-Eng. 2020; 190:107960.
- 20Kurihara JK, Tomimatsu T, Liu YF, Guo SQ, Kagawa Y. Mode I fracture toughness of SiC particle-dispersed ZrB2 matrix composite measured using DCDC specimen. Ceram Int. 2021; 36: 381-384.
- 21Hadianfard MJ, Heness G, Healy JC, Mai YW. Fracture toughness measurements and failure mechanisms of metal matrix composites. Fatigue Fract Eng Mater Struct. 1994; 17(3): 253-263.
- 22He R, Steglich D, Heerens J, Wang GX, Brocks W, Dahms M. Influence of particle size and volume fraction on damage and fracture in Al-Al3Ti composites and micromechanical modelling using the GTN model. Fatigue Fract Eng Mater Struct. 1998; 21: 1189-1201.
- 23Ponnusami SA, Krishnasamy J, Turteltaub S, Zwaag S. A micromechanical fracture analysis to investigate the effect of healing particles on the overall mechanical response of a self-healing particulate composite. Fatigue Fract Eng Mater Struct. 2019; 42: 533-545.
- 24Somerday BP, Leng Y, Gangloff RP. Elevated temperature fracture of particulate-reinforced aluminum, Part II: micromechanical modelling. Fatigue Fract Eng Mater Struct. 1995; 18(9): 1031-1050.
- 25Sun W, You FH, Kong FT, Wang XP, Chen YY. Enhanced tensile strength and fracture toughness of a Ti-TiAl metal-intermetallic laminate (MIL) composite. Intermetallics. 2020; 118:106684.
- 26Sun W, You FH, Kong FT, Wang XP, Chen YY. Effect of residual stress on the mechanical properties of Ti-TiAl laminate composites fabricated by hot-pack rolling. Mater Charact. 2020; 166:110394.
- 27Springer H, Aparicio Fernandez R, Duarte MJ, Kostka A, Raabe D. Microstructure reinment for high modulus in-situ metal matrix composites steels via controlled solidification of the system Fe-TiB2. Acta Mater. 2015; 96: 47-56.
- 28Bruce D, Paradise P, Saxena A, et al. A critical assessment of the archimedes density method for thin-wall specimens in laser powder bed fusion: measurement capability, process sensitivity and property correlation. J Manuf Process. 2022; 79: 185-192.
- 29Wang BG, Yi HL, Wang GD, Luo ZC, Huang MX. Reconstruction of 3D morphology of TiB2 in in situ Fe matrix composites. Acta Metall Sin. 2019; 55(1): 133-140.
- 30Jiang HX, Song Y, Zhang LL, He J, Li SX, Zhao JZ. Efficient grain refinement of Al alloys induced by in-situ nanoparticles. J Mater Sci Technol. 2022; 124: 14-25.
- 31Wang D, Shanthraj P, Springer H, Raabe D. Particle-induced damage in Fe-TiB2 high stiffness metal matrix composite steels. Mater Des. 2018; 160: 557-571.
- 32Gasperini M, Dammak M, Franciosi P. Stress estimates for particle damage in Fe-TiB2 metal matrix composites from experimental data and simulation. Eur J Mech A-Solid. 2017; 64: 85-98.
- 33Gong X, Fan JL, Ding F, Song M, Huang BY, Tian JM. Microstructrue and highly enhanced mechanical properties of fine-grained tungsten heavy alloy after one-pass rapid hot extrusion. Mater Sci Eng A. 2011; 528: 3646-3652.
- 34Levin ZS, Ted HK. Hardness and microstructure of tungsten heavy alloy subjected to severe plastic deformation and post-processing heat treatment. Mater Sci Eng A. 2015; 635: 94-101.
- 35Sankhla AM, Patel KM, Makhesana MA, et al. Effect of mixing method and particle size on hardness and compressive strength of aluminium based metal matrix composite prepared through powder metallurgy route. J Mater Res Technol. 2022; 18: 282-292.
- 36Zhang P, Li SX, Zhang ZF. General relationship between strength and hardness. Mater Sci Eng A. 2011; 529: 62-73.
- 37Oliver WC, Pharr GM. Measurement of hardness and elastic modulus by instrumented indentation: advances in understanding and refinements to methodology. J Mater Res. 2004; 19: 3-20.
- 38Akaluzia RO, Edoziuno FO, Adediran AA, Odoni BU, Edibo S, Olayanju TMA. Evaluation of the effect of reinforcement particle sizes on the impact and hardness properties of hardwood charcoal particulate-polyester resin composites. Mater Today: Proc. 2021; 38: 570-577.
- 39Alam ME, Wang J, Henager CH Jr, Setyawan W, Odette GR. The effect of hot rolling on the strength and fracture toughness of 90W-7Ni3Fe tungsten heavy metal alloys. Mater Sci Eng A. 2021; 824:141738.
- 40 Metallic Materials—Determination of Plane-Strain Fracture Toughness. The National Standards of the People's Republic of China (GB/T 4161-2007); 2007: 1-19.
- 41Yidiz BK, Tur YK. Effect of ZrO2 content on the microstructure and flexural strength of Al2O3-ZrO2 composites with the stored failure. Ceram Int. 2021; 47: 34199-34206.
- 42Yuan YY, Peng C, Sun T, et al. Influences of particle content, size and particle/matrix bonding strength on the gas transmission coefficient of carbon fiber reinforced epoxy. Compos Sci Technol. 2021; 216:109071.
- 43Nie XW, Lu Q. Fracture toughness of ZrO2-SiC/MoSi2 composite ceramics prepared by powder metallurgy. Ceram Int. 2021; 47: 19700-19708.
- 44Rodriguez-Castro R, Wetherhold RC, Kelestemur MH. Microstructure and mechanical behavior of functionally graded Al A359/SiCp composite. Mater Sci Eng A. 2002; 323: 445-456.
- 45Zamanian M, Mortezaei M, Salehnia B, Jam JE. Fracture toughness of epoxy polymer modified with nanosilica particles: particle size effect. Eng Fract Mech. 2013; 97: 193-206.
- 46Wu N, Xue FD, Yang HL, Li GP, Luo FH, Ruan JM. Effect of TiB2 particle size on the microstructure and mechanical properties of TiB2-based composites. Ceram Int. 2019; 45: 1370-1378.
- 47Yang JH, Xiao SL, Chen YY, Xu LJ, Wang XP, Zhang DD. The tensile and fracture toughness properties of a (TiBw+TiCp)/Ti-3.5Al-5Mo-6V-3Cr-2Sn-0.5Fe composites after heat treatment. Mater Sci Eng A. 2018; 729: 21-28.
- 48Huang LJ, Geng L, Peng HX. Microstructurally inhomogeneous composites: is a homogeneous reinforcement distribution optimal. Prog Mater Sci. 2015; 71: 93-168.
- 49Hu Y, Wu Y, Guo Y, et al. Effect of T6 treatment, tensile temperature, and mass fraction of SiC on the mechanical properties of SiCp/6061Al composites. Materials. 2019; 12(10): 1602-1616.
- 50Li WP, Li XP, Feng H, Jiang C. Effect of fatigue-mediated secondary microcrack on crack resistance of twinned materials. Int J Solids Struct. 2022; 234-235:111210.
- 51Yang N, Sinclair I. Fatigue crack growth in a particulate TiB2-reinforced powder metallurgy iron-based composite. Metall Mater Trans. 2003; 34: 2017-2024.
- 52Li YL, Wang WX, Zhou J, Chen HS, Zhao JC, Wang BD. Fatigue crack growth and fracture of 30 wt% B4C/6061Al composites. Fatigue Fract Eng Mater Struct. 2017; 40(9): 1378-1388.