Mechanical Properties of Composites with Titanium Diboride Fabricated by Spark Plasma Sintering

Microstructure and mechanical properties of the 316L steel composite reinforced with TiB2 phase were examined. The test materials were obtained by SPS technique from powders. From testing of the mechanical properties it follows that the optimum temperature for the fabrication of 316Lsteel-TiB₂ composites by SPS is 1100°C. Studies have also proved that the critical content of TiB₂ phase in steel matrix should not exceed 6vol%. Above this level, the plastic properties of the composite become unstable and strongly dependent on the time of sintering.