Effects of Graphite Particles in Titanium Metal Matrix Developed by Spark Plasma Sintering Process

Abstract

In recent days, the requirement of advanced materials plays an important role in the engineering field. Simultaneously, material properties have been fulfilled the demand for industrial applications. Advanced new materials are to be achieved through one or more materials combined with each other. Composite materials have been satisfied all kinds of applications. Due to their excellent properties, they are used in various fields such as aerospace, automobile, medical, communication, electrical and electronics fields. Titanium–graphite metal matrix provides excellent properties such as strength, hardness, corrosion resistance, thermal and electrical conductivities. Titanium–graphite composite samples with the volume fraction of graphite in the mixture are 3, 5 and 10% prepared by spark plasma sintering (SPS) process. It has been observed that addition of graphite into titanium provides higher amount of density and hardness. Metal matrix characterization has been studied through scanning electron microscope (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). Titanium–graphite composite has been machined by electrical discharge machining (EDM) process.