Temperature dependence of fracture behavior of in situ synthesized TiC/Ti-alloy matrix composite

In this paper, 10 vol.%TiC/Ti–6Al–3Sn–3.5Zr–0.4Mo–0.75Nb–0.35Si composite was fabricated by in situ casting route. The fracture behavior of the composite in the temperature range from ambient temperature to 900 °C has been researched. The results indicate that the damage mechanism of the composite is dominated by particle fracture followed by the ductile failure of the matrix below 700 °C. Plastic deformation occurs locally and the fractured TiC particles located mainly in the region of strain localisation at ambient temperature. Distribution region of broken particles increases with the increase in matrix plastic deformation below 700 °C. The strain is the main factor influencing the number of fractured particles below 600 °C, whereas TiC clusters and particle size are the dominant factors at 700 °C. Interface decohesion is the main feature above 800 °C, contributing to the damage of the composite. The generation of voids is always associated with larger particles and TiC clusters since they can impede the plastic flow of the matrix much more prominently above 800 °C.