Electrochemical Process for the Manufacturing of Titanium Alloy Matrix Composites

Titanium matrix composites (TMC) represent a perspective materials category with potential applications in many important fields like aerospace constructions, automotive industry, ship structures, sports and households objects, and others. A titanium matrix composite is constituted of a titanium or titanium alloy – matrix and reinforcements materials, which are usually ceramics in form of particles or fibres 1 . Titanium matrix composites combine the good mechanical characteristics as strength, ductility, toughness, and the damage tolerance of titanium alloys with the high strength, stiffness and creep resistance of ceramic reinforcements (i.e. silicon carbide, titanium boride, titanium carbide, etc.). A reduction of the composites’ density toward the matrix alloy is owed to reinforcements. Titanium alloys used as matrixes in TMC are of different types, chosen for their specific high properties: high mechanical tensile and fatigue strength, raised Young modulus, or good heat resistance. So, several current alloys used as matrix are: TiAl6V4, TiAl5Sn2,5, TiAl8Mo1V1,0, TiFe4,3Mo7,0Al1,4V1,4, etc. The suitable reinforcements for TMC related as being used or investigated in scientific studies, are: silicon carbide coated boron as continuous fibers; titanium diboride, titanium carbide, silicon carbide, aluminium oxide and other ceramic particles. The reinforcements in TMC extend titanium operating temperature range from 300 °C ÷ 400 °C up to 600 °C. The main applications of TMC are in aeronautical constructions as structural materials and as components for engines, landing gears, etc. These high performance materials tend to be used in automotive constructions such as automobile engines, drive train components or general machine components. There are several fabrication methods of TMC which are presented in known processes and patents. Current obtaining methods can be divided into two major categories 2 . Primary fabrication methods are used to create the TMC from its constituents. The resulting material may be in a form close to the final configuration, or it may require considerable additional processing, called secondary fabrication, such as forming, rolling, metallurgical bonding and machining. The used