Synthesis of near net shape high density TiB/Ti composite

TiB/Ti composite were produced by SHS (self propagating high temperature synthesis) under conditions of PHIP (pseudo-hot isostatic pressing). The synthesis conditions were optimized to produce highly dense materials conforming a high volume fraction of TiB. Self-propagating reaction of the Ti and B powders occurred above the α- to β-Ti transformation temperature (1155 K). The composites consist of Ti matrices with dispersed TiB reaction products of 2–30 μm size. Near fully dense composites with a TiB/Ti volume ratio of 33–44 vol.% were synthesized for B/Ti atomic ratios of 0.3–0.4 at pseudo isostatic pressures of 100 MPa. The Vickers hardness and fracture stress of the composites are 5.6–7.1 and 2.1–2.3 GPa, respectively, and the wear of the composite is approximately 7–9% of the Ti and Ti–6Al–4V.