Study on interfacial bonding mechanisms of Co/Nb-doped TiB2 cermet composites by mechanical alloying
摘要
Driven by demands for lightweight aerospace and corrosion-resistant petrochemical components, this study addresses performance limitations in TiB2-reinforced ultrahigh-strength steel matrix composites—notably brittle Fe2B phases and poor wettability—through Co/Nb interfacial engineering via mechanical alloying–hot rolling consolidation. Key results demonstrate that: (i) Co suppresses Fe2B by forming a lattice-matched (Co, Ti) B transition layer and enhances wettability via γ-Fe solid solution, achieving an effective interfacial transition zone > 10 μm; (ii) Nb preferentially forms NbB2 to block boron diffusion, but excess addition (> 40 wt%) induces brittle phases and microcracks; (iii) thermodynamic analysis confirms phase stability of Nb across 0–1600 °C, while Co demonstrates optimal performance in 400–1000 °C processing. Critically, TiB2-reinforced steel matrix composites co-doped with Co/Nb, featuring mechanically alloyed Core-Rim structures (TiB2-core/Co-shell spheres and TiB2-core/Nb-shell platelets), exhibit breakthrough properties via interfacial enhancement. Interfacial regions achieve 1086 MPa tensile strength (109% over matrix) and 835.6 HV hardness, establishing a critical foundation for high-strength laminated composites.