Effect of KBF4 and K2TiF6 on precipitation kinetics of TiB2 in aluminium matrix composite

Aluminium reinforced with TiB2 is an emerging class of metal matrix composites for many engineering applications such as automobiles, aerospace and naval vessels. The initial part of the present work study involves melting of individual fluxes of KBF4 and KTiF6 in premelted aluminium in an induction furnace. In the later part of the work covers the combined effect of these fluxes to produce aluminium metal matrix composites containing 2.5% TiB2. The effect of the varying amount of KBF4 on kinetics of TiB2 formation and elimination other unstable phases was studied. The material was examined for hardness, microstructures and wear rates using Pin-on-Disc test machine, XRD and SEM-EDX analysis. The effect of TiB2 on properties was analysed. It was concluded that an optimum level of KBF4 is needed to get critical population of TiB2 particles in the matrix.