The effects of nano titanium oxide addition on the structural and mechanical properties of a Ni-Al2O3 system using the powder method

Abstract EN

The powder method is a modern technique used in the manufacturing of composites.

Thus, it was employed in this study to prepare composite samples from nickel as a matrix, with a constant alumina content of 10% and titanium oxide (TiO2) with different proportions (0, 5, 10, 15 and 20%).

The powders were milled and stirred for one hour using a homemade grinder containing steel balls.

Afterward, the samples were compacted at a pressure of five tons for one minute.

The prepared samples were sintered at 1300°C for two hours.

Tests with the scanning electron microscope (SEM) on mechanical properties (hardness and diagonal compressive strength) and some physical properties (density and porosity) were conducted before and after sintering.

The SEM results show a clearly defined microstructure, with the best homogeneity and crystalline cohesion of TiO2 at 15%.

The greatest Vickers hardness was measured at 15%, reaching 170.82Hv.

The greatest diagonal compressive strength value was also found at 15%, reaching 49.5 MPa, while density decreased with the increase in reinforcement content, reaching its minimum at 20% of TiO2.

However, porosity increased with the increase in titanium oxide content and decreased after the sintering process.