Creation of a nickel composite using surface structuring of the reinforcing phase with titanium carbide nanostructures to improve strength properties

Abstract

The development of metal matrix composite (MMC) materials is one of the demanded areas of research in materials science. In line with this trend, there is an increasing interest in nickel-based MMC materials, which have already become classic in science and technology. This is due to the high demand for Ni-based materials with high strength characteristics, high hardness, and increased heat resistance.

In this research, we proposed an approach to obtain a MMC material using the surface structuring process, ALD (Atomic Layer Deposition) and powder metallurgy method. The developed approach provides a composite with TiC nanostructures (1-5 nm) uniformly distributed throughout the Ni matrix. The absence of interphase boundaries between the Ni matrix particles and carbide nanostructures made it possible to minimize the internal porosity of the sample. This is due to the strength of the interphase boundaries between the matrix and the reinforcing phase in the composite and to the solidity of the structure. As a result, the created material effectively resists plastic deformation and stress. This allows not only to enhance the strength properties of the composite, but also to maintain the MMC plasticity, which increases its processing ability.