Matrix microstructure evolution during the fabrication of SiCf/Ti60 composites
Zhicong Gan, Yumin Wang, Xu Zhang, Lina Yang, Qiuyue Jia, Xu Kong, Guoxing Zhang, Qing Yang, Rui Yang
Abstract
Microstructure evolution during the hot isostatic pressing (HIP) of continuous silicon carbide fiber-reinforced Ti (SiCf/Ti) composites has not been investigated. In this study, SiCf/Ti60 composites were prepared via the HIP solidification method of Ti60 precursor wires. The evolution of the microstructure of the Ti60 precursor wires and SiCf/Ti60 composites was characterized using electron backscatter diffraction microscopy and transmission electron microscopy techniques. The results showed that the deformation of α-Ti was mainly accomplished by basal <a> dislocations and prismatic <a> dislocations slip during the HIP process. After the completion of HIP, the low-angle grain boundaries (LAGBs) were reduced to 24.6%, and the average grain size of α-Ti was increased to 7.47 μm2. Two fiber textures, <0001>//axial direction (AD) and <10-10>//AD strength, were present in α-Ti, with a 38% increase in <10-10>//AD strength. The phase contents of 1.0% β-Ti and 0.6% (Ti, Zr)6Si3 precipitated from different locations in the Ti60 matrix and induced changes in misorientation.