An Experimental and Modeling Study of Synthesis, Consolidation and Aging Behavior of AA2014 Composite Reinforced by TiB2 via Powder Metallurgy Method

Aluminum 2014 alloy composite reinforced with TiB<inf>2</inf> particulates with different volume% of TiB<inf>2</inf> (5, 10 and 15%) has been successfully synthesized by P/M route. The composite powders were consolidated by cold uniaxial compaction pressure followed by sintering at 590 °C in N<inf>2</inf> atmosphere. The Al 2014–TiB<inf>2</inf> composites were aged at 160 °C between 0 and 8 h followed by microstructural characterization and hardness evaluation. Scheil cooling and equilibrium calculations were performed using FactSage for qualitative understanding of the microstructural evolution during sintering and aging operations. In addition, the thermo-physical properties such as hardness, density and transverse rupture strength of the sintered samples were evaluated.