Role of layered structure in ductility improvement of Ti-B4C/Al composite fabricated by pulse current sintering

In this study, a novel structure of layered Ti-B4C/AA6061 composite with different B4C particles contents was designed and fabricated by pulse current sintering, and its microstructure and mechanical properties were investigated. It is found that the heterogeneous interface bonds well without voids and cracks and the B4C particles exhibit a homogenous distribution in AA6061matrix. The intermetallic compounds (TixAly) are observed with a thickness of about 1.5 μm between Ti and B4C/AA6061 layers. The yield strength, ultimate tensile strength and elongation to fracture of the layered Ti-B4C/AA6061 composite are obviously enhanced. In addition, the Ti layers and the B4C particles embedded in the matrix play an important role in strengthening mechanisms of the layered composite, and the crack propagation is constrained by layered structure.