Microstructure and mechanical properties of TiBw/Ti-Ti3Al metal-intermetallic laminate (MIL) composites

TiBw/Ti-Ti₃Al laminated composites have been fabricated through reaction annealing in vacuum using 5vol. % TiBw/Ti composite foils and Al foils with different initial thicknesses. The aluminum layer is consumed by forming a titanium aluminide intermetallic compound. Thus, the final microstructure consists of alternating layers of intermetallic compound and unreacted TiBw/Ti composite. Microstructural characterization by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) has shown that only the intermetallic Ti3Al is formed. The designing laminated composites exhibit a superior combination of tensile strength and ductility during the tensile process. (paper)