The Synthesis And Microstructure Of In-situ (Tiw) C/Fe Matrix Composites

In situ particulates reinforced metal matrix composites have becomeone of interesting topics in the field of metal matrix composites (MMCs).and have been considered as an important development direction of MMCs.In order to provide iron and steel with new powerful activity and meet the higher requirements presented by modern industry to iron and steel materials,the 10vol% and 20vol% reinforcement were first synthesized respectively in an electric arc furnace with a non-consumable Welectrode. Then , scanning electron microscopy(SEM) equipped with energy dispersive X-ray analysis(EDAX) was used to perform themicrostructural observation and to discern the composition of the formed carbide In order to identify the nature of phases , X-ray diffraction analysis with CuK a radiation was done on the samples.Finally, the particulate size was roughly measured and the effects ofcontinents of alloy elements Ti , W on the composition of the phaseswas discussed at the same time.The results show that the in-situ produced (TiW)C phasescomposites assume the small rod-like and square block morphologies mostly and 20vol%(TiW)C/Fe composites is more complex in morphology and variation than10vol% one . It is also found that the majority of the block phases all have a dark core rich in titanium with a white periphery rich in tungsten. Compositional analysis indicates that they both take on the structure of TiC phase (MC Type). Through TiC and Fe binary phase diagram ,it is analysized that in the composites the block phase is the prime phase ,while rod-like is ineutectic structure. So it is possible to attain all expected.microstructure under the condition of the proper compositional proportion of the titanium to the tungsten , but the structure of the phase will change while the contents of titanium or tungsten is lower ,.It is proved by quantitative analysis that with the content of titanium lower and tungsten higher in the alloy,the proportion of titanium to tungsten lowers little by little in the (TiW)C reforcement ; Particles are smaller in size and more in quantity in 10vol%composites than in 20vol% one .The above results demonstrate that in-situ synthesis of (TiW)C/Fe composites in iron matrix is feasible.