Fabrication of particulate rutile TiO₂/Al composites by squeeze casting and their structural characteristics

Abstract

Rutile TiO₂/Al composites were prepared by squeeze casting method and the reactivity between the reinforcement and the matrix was investigated. Three kinds of composite structures were found depending on the fabrication temperatures. The first one was the non-reacted composites of TiO₂/Al, the second one was the reacted homogeneous composites and the last one was the reacted heterogeneous composites composed of complex multiple phases. The hardness of the reacted homogeneous composites was about HV1100, while the hardness of the reacted heterogeneous composites ranged from HV40 to 1250. X-ray diffraction pattern and SEM analysis showed that, the hardened reacted homogeneous composites was composed of fine α-Al₂O₃ dispersed in the Al-Ti intermetallic compound matrix.