Fabrication of TiC and TiB2 locally reinforced steel matrix composites using a Fe–Ti–B4C–C system by an SHS-casting route

Steel matrix composites locally reinforced by in situ TiC and TiB2 particulates were successfully fabricated using self-propagating high-temperature synthesis (SHS) in a Fe–Ti–B4C–C system during casting. The locally reinforced steel matrix composites consist of three distinct regions: (i) a TiC and TiB2 particulate-reinforced region, (ii) a transition region, and (iii) a steel matrix region. The TiC and TiB2 particulates in the locally reinforced regions display a relatively uniform distribution, and their sizes decrease with the increase in Fe content from 10 wt.% to 40 wt.%. The wear resistance of the locally reinforced region of the steel matrix composites is much higher than that of the unreinforced steel matrix.