Synthesis of carbon fiber reinforced titanium matrix composites by using microwave pressureless sintering

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In order to address the pressing demands of high-end sectors such as aerospace, energy, and healthcare for lightweight yet high-strength materials, titanium matrix composites have exhibited significant application potential due to their exceptional overall performance. This study employed a process that combines low-energy ball milling and cold pressing with microwave pressureless sintering to systematically investigate the effects of carbon fiber content and sintering temperature on the microstructure and mechanical properties of the material. The results indicated that at carbon fiber (CF) contents of 0.5 wt% and 1 wt%, the material developed a quasi-continuous network structure, while the Widmanstätten structure was eliminated, leading to increases in tensile strength by 15% and 29%, respectively, compared to pure titanium. However, an excessive amount of carbon fibers tended to agglomerate, which diminished the performance enhancement effect. The observed improvements in performance were primarily attributed to grain refinement and the pinning effect of TiC. This study confirmed that microwave sintering can be effectively utilized for preparing high-performance short-cut carbon fiber reinforced titanium matrix composites, achieving optimization in performance alongside energy-saving and environmentally friendly characteristics. This approach provides a novel method for fabricating metal matrix composites.