Production and properties of functionally graded hybrid composites containing Al${}_3$Ti and TiB${}_2$

This study examined the production and properties of functionally graded hybrid composites containing titanium di-boride (TiB${}_2$) and titanium tri-aluminate (Al${}_3$Ti) particles. The composites were produced by the centrifugal solid particle method at 850 °C. A detailed study of the microstructures, hardness and abrasive wear behavior of the hybrid composites was carried out. The results showed that the produced composites had three different regions along the centrifugal force direction. It was found that there were Al${}_3$Ti particles in the outer region, TiB${}_2$ particles in the middle region and neither Al${}_3$Ti nor TiB${}_2$ particles in the inner region of the functionally graded composites. It was determined that the abrasive wear properties of the composites were improved by 5 times with about 33 wt.% Al${}_3$Ti and by 3 times with about 7 wt.% TiB${}_2$ in comparison to the pure aluminum matrix.