Preparation and excellent mechanical properties of Ti particle reinforced Mg matrix composites by in-situ precipitation technology

Hard metallic particles (Ti, Fe et al.) as reinforcing phases of Mg matrix composites have advantages of the inherent ductility and good interfacial bonding. In this paper, Mg/Ti composites were prepared by ball milling, spark plasma sintering (SPS) heat treatment and extrusion technology. Through the synthesis and decomposition of Mg-Ti phase with face centered cubic (FCC) crystal structure precipitated and diffusely distributed in Mg matrix, the microscopic morphology and mechanical properties of the composites were analyzed and characterized. The interface between the Mg matrix and Ti particles is bonded very well without any intermetallic or defect, displaying a preferred orientation relationship of (0 0 0 2)_Ti∥(0 0 0 2)_Mg. The mechanical properties of the Mg/Ti composites increase with the increase of Ti particles content. When the volume fraction of Ti particles reaches 6.77 v.%, the compressive yield strength (CYS), ultimate compressive strength (UCS) and vickers microhardness of the composite are up to 463 MPa, 489 MPa and 141.2 HV_1.0, respectively.