Processing and mechanical properties of iron aluminide composites containing oxide particles

FeAl/ZrO2 and FeAl/Al2O3 particulate composites are difficult to process by liquid phase sintering because of thermodynamic instability and lack of wetting, respectively. Wetting in the FeAl/Al2O3 system is dramatically improved by partially replacing Al2O3 with TiC particles, although significant residual porosity remains. When the residual porosity is removed by hot forging, FeAl/TiC/Al2O3 composites exhibiting high strength and fracture toughness are obtained.