Microstructure of alumina-matrix composites reinforced with nanometric titanium and titanium carbide dispersions.

The synthesis of alumina have different amount of fine titanium and titanium carbide reinforcement. Two experimental steps have been set for the synthesis:

The first step consisted of the pressure less-sintering of Alumina titanium powders which were thoroughly mixed under high energy ball-milling.

The second step it was induced the formation of titanium carbide during different times at 500 ºC by the cementation packing process.

SEM and EDS analysis of the microstructures obtained in both sintered and cemented bodies were performed in order to know the effect of the activated carbon used as cementing agent on the titanium for each studied composite.

It was observed that a titanium carbide layer growth from the surface into the bulk and reaches different depth as the titanium content in the composites increases. On the other hand, the use of ductile titanium notably enhanced density level and fracture toughness of the composites.

Elizabeth Refugio-García^I; David Hernández-Silva^II; Eduardo Terrés-Rojas^III; José Amparo Rodríguez-García^IV; Enrique Rocha-Rangel^IV,*

^IDepartamento de Materiales, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana, Av. San Pablo, 180, D.F. 02200, Col Reynosa, Tamaulipas, México 

^IIDepartamento de Ingeniería Metalúrgica, ESIQIE-IPN, UPALM, Av. IPN s/n, D.F. 07738, San Pedro Zacatenco, México 

^IIILaboratorio de Microscopía Electrónica de Ultra Alta Resolución, IMP, Eje Central Lazara Cárdenas, 152, D.F. 07730, San Bartolo Atepehuecan, México 

^IVUniversidad Politécnica de Victoria, Av. Nuevas Tecnologías 5902, Parque Científico y Tecnológico de Tamaulipas, D.F. 87137, Ciudad Victoria, Tamaulipas, México

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