High volume fraction TiCx/Al composites with good comprehensive performance fabricated by combustion synthesis and hot press consolidation

In situ high volume fraction (50–70 vol.%) TiCx/Al composites were successfully fabricated by combustion synthesis and hot press consolidation in an Al–Ti–C system. Microstructure characterization of the TiCx/Al composites shows relatively uniform distribution of the TiCx particles with the particle size in the range of about 1–5 μm. All of the yield strength (σ0.2), hardness and abrasive wear resistance of the TiCx/Al composites increase with the increase in the TiCx content, and the σUCS firstly increases and then decreases. The σ0.2, σUCS, fracture strain (ɛf) and hardness of the 70 vol.% TiCx/Al composite are 576 MPa, 744 MPa, 3.09% and 253.5 ± 6 Hv, respectively. The abrasive wear resistance of the 70 vol.% TiCx/Al composite is about 4 times higher than that of the cast hypereutectic Al–Si alloy when the applied load is no more than 25 N and the Al2O3 abrasive particle size is no more than 20 μm.