Synthesis of Porous Fe/TiB₂ Composites by Means of Combustion Synthesis Reaction

Abstract

Porous metals show some unique properties, which bulk metals cannot exhibit. Especially, iron-based porous metals are expected to be applied to structural components because of their high strength, high rigidity, low material cost and so on. In this research, we synthesized porous Fe/TiB₂ composites by Fe-Ti-B combustion reaction. Iron, titanium and boron powders were blended to synthesize 30 to 60vol%TiB₂ particles in Fe matrix after the combustion synthesis reaction. Four kinds of iron powders (powder size: < 53 μm, < 150 μm, 600 μm and 850-1000 μm) were used. The blended powder was heated to induce the combustion synthesis reaction. When < 53 μm and < 150 μm iron powders were used, irregular shaped and open pores were formed. On the other hand, when 600 μm and 850-1000 μm iron powders were used, spherical pores whose sizes and shapes were similar to those of iron powders were formed.