INFLUENCE OF THE TiB2 PARTICLES ON THE MICROSTRUCTURAL AND MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF THE CuCrZr ALLOY

Abstract

Reinforced CuCrZr alloy with TiB₂ particles was produced using powder metallurgy (PM) techniques. The commercially prealloyed CuCrZr powder was combined with elemental powders Ti and B. Both prealloyed CuCrZr powder and powder mixture CuCrZr–4.1wt.%Ti–1.86 wt.%B were mechanically alloyed (MA) for 5 hours in argon inert atmosphere using high-energy ball mill (Turbula mixer). Mechanical alloying was applied to provide good distribution of Ti and B particles inside the CuCrZr, and to ensure their activation for in situ formation of TiB₂ particles during sintering. MA powders were cold pressed with applied pressure of 140 MPa, and sintered at 1030°C for 2 hours in argon. Structural parameters and phases present in the MA powders and obtained compacts were investigated using X-ray diffraction (XRD). Crystallite size and strain, determined by XRD, were used to calculate dislocation density in the CuCrZr and CuCrZr-TiB₂ alloys. By observing structural parameters, it can be noted that the addition of Ti and B decreases crystallite size and lattice parameters of the CuCrZr matrix. XRD analysis confirmed formation of the reinforcing particles TiB₂ after sintering. Scanning microscopy was employed for investigation of the microstructure and distribution of reinforcing particles inside the CuCrZr matrix. In situ formation of TiB₂ particles inside the CuCrZr matrix increases hardness values up to 30% compared to hardness of the CuCrZr compact.

Acknowledgement

This work was funded by the Ministry of Science, Technological Development and Innovations of the Republic of Serbia (Contract No. 451-03-136/2025-03/200017) and by the Science Fund of the Republic of Serbia, Grant No. 7365, Development of dispersion-strengthened metal-based materials for applications in fusion reactor - DisSFusionMat.