Comprehensive Analysis of TiC-Reinforced ZA-37 Alloy Matrix Composites: Microstructural, Hardness, and Corrosion Performance

The effects of TiC particle reinforcement on the microstructure, hardness, and electrochemical properties of ZA-37 alloy matrix composites are investigated in current research. The composites were synthesized using an in-situ technique, and various propositions of TiC particles as reinforcement were used. The study found that the composite samples exhibit greater hardness than ZA-37 alloy. Furthermore, the research examined how the composites corrode using Tafel and EIS graphs while submerged within a 3.5-wt% NaCl solution at normal room temperature. Results exhibited that the composites had superior corrosion resistance compared to ZA-37 alloy, and the reason for this is the creation of a protective layer composed of TiO₂ on the surface of the composites. The study found that the ZA-37 + 10%TiC composite showed enhanced corrosion resistance. This results from the homogeneous allocation of TiC particles that are corrosion resistant and also due to low porosity that does not permit the corrosion ions to counter with the base material. The results suggest that using TiC particles as reinforcement in ZA-37 alloy could be a viable approach to improve its performance in applications that require high strength and corrosion resistance.