Effect of Ni addition on the preparation of Al₂O₃–TiB₂ composites using high-energy ball milling

Peer review under responsibility of The Ceramic Society of Japan and the Korean Ceramic Society.

Abstract

Al₂O₃–TiB₂ composites were synthesized using high-energy ball milling from starting powders containing Al, TiO₂, and B₂O₃. To explore the effect of the addition of another ductile metallic phase during milling, 15 wt.% Ni was added to a sample of the starting powders. The phase transformations and microstructure of the milled powder mixtures were investigated using X-ray diffraction and electron microscopy. The results showed that the Ni addition facilitated the mechanochemical reaction between the Al, TiO₂, and B₂O₃. Before the appearance of the Al₂O₃–TiB₂ composite, the intermediate product NiAl was formed by a gradual exothermic reaction. With continued milling, the final phases of Al₂O₃–TiB₂ and Ni were obtained.

Keywords:

• Al₂O₃–TiB₂
• Ni addition
• Mechanical alloying

Acknowledgments

The authors acknowledge the financial support provided for this work by the following organizations: National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant nos. 51375150 and 51205114), Academic Leaders project of the WuHan Science and Technology Bureau (Grant no. 201271130448), and the Hubei Provincial Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant no. 2013CFB018). The authors would also like to express gratitude to the reviewers for their constructive comments on the original manuscript.

Notes

Peer review under responsibility of The Ceramic Society of Japan and the Korean Ceramic Society.