AlMgB14–TiB2 composite materials obtained by self-propagating high-temperature synthesis and spark plasma sintering

In this work, AlMgB14–TiB2 composite materials were obtained by thermochemical-coupled self-propagating high-temperature synthesis (SHS) and subsequent spark plasma sintering. The mechanism was proposed for the formation of the composite materials in the thermochemical-coupled SHS mode. The phase composition, microstructure, and properties (density and Vickers hardness) of the dense AlMgB14–TiB2 materials were investigated. At a sintering temperature of 1470 °C, AlMgB14 is decomposed into AlB12 and Mg. The sample sintered at 1470 °C with a holding time of 5 min had a maximum average hardness of 32.1 GPa.