TiB2-Cu Interpenetrating Phase Composites Produced by Spark-plasma Sintering

Abstract

Interpenetrating phase composites of TiB2-Cu system were produced via Spark-Plasma Sintering (SPS) of nanocomposite powders. Under simultaneous action of pressure, temperature and electric current titanium diboride nanoparticles distributed in copper matrix move, agglomerate and form a fine-grained skeleton. Increasing SPS-temperature and holding time promote densification due to local melting of copper matrix. When copper melting is avoided the compacts contain 17 - 20% porosity but titanium diboride skeleton is still formed representing the feature of SPS. High degree of densification and formation of titanium diboride network result in increased hardness of high-temperature SPS-compacts.