Combustion Synthesis of TiB₂-TiC/42CrMo4 Composites with Gradient Joint Prepared in Different High-Gravity Fields

The novel TiB₂-TiC/42CrMo4-laminated composite materials were successfully fabricated by combustion synthesis in different high-gravity fields. This ceramic/metal composite material possesses continuously graded composition, and multilevel gradient microstructure, which is composed of TiB₂-TiC ceramic substrate, ceramic-based intermediate layer, metal-based intermediate layer, and 42CrMo4 substrate. The ceramic-based intermediate layer is the main gradient transition region in the joint which shows that the TiB₂ and TiC grains decrease gradually in size and volume fraction from the ceramic substrate to metal substrate. The experiment reveals that the increased high-gravity field not only leads to the higher combustion temperature and the remarkable thermal explosion mode, but also attributes to the enhanced interdiffusion and convection between the molten steel surface and liquid TiB₂-based ceramic. So, the reliable fusion bonding of TiB₂-TiC/42CrMo4 composite materials is achieved. Moreover, the phase separation and forced filling effect of high-gravity field is the key to improve the densification and bond performance of the joint. The ceramic/metal joint in the continuous gradient composition and microstructure represents not only the transitional change of Vickers hardness, but also the high shear bond strength of 420 ± 25 MPa.