Microstructure Modification for Cu-TiB2 Composites by Ultrasonic Power-Assisted in Situ Casting

doi:10.1007/s40195-025-01888-0

Abstract

Abstract:

Ultrasonic vibration treatment (UVT) at varying power was successfully applied to the Cu-TiB₂ composite melt using a SiAlON ceramic sonotrode. The results indicate that TiB₂ particles are more evenly dispersed in the Cu matrix with increasing ultrasonic power, leading to improved mechanical properties of as-cast composites (≤ 1000 W). With 1000 W UVT, the distribution of TiB₂ particles becomes the remarkably uniform and well dispersed, with the size of TiB₂ particle aggregates decreasing from ~ 50 μm without UVT to ~ 5 μm. The ultimate tensile strength, yield strength, and elongation of the as-cast composite are 201 MPa, 85 MPa, and 28.6%, respectively, representing increases of 21.1%, 27.3%, and 43%, respectively, compared to the as-cast composite without UVT. However, when the power is increased to 1500 W, thermal effects are likely to emerge, and the ultrasonic attenuation effect is enhanced, resulting in the re-agglomeration of TiB₂ particles and a deterioration in performance. By quantitatively analyzing the relationships between sound pressure (P_k), sound energy density (I), sound pulse velocity (V), and ultrasonic power, the influence mechanism of ultrasonic power on the composite microstructure has been further elucidated and characterized. This study provides crucial guidance for the industrial application of UVT in the fabrication of Cu matrix composites.

Key words: Ultrasonic vibration treatment, Cu-TiB₂ composites, Microstructure, Mechanical properties

Zhifeng Liu, Siruo Zhang, Longjian Li, Zhirou Zhang, Zongning Chen, Ying Fu, Huijun Kang, Zhiqiang Cao, Enyu Guo, Tongmin Wang. Microstructure Modification for Cu-TiB₂ Composites by Ultrasonic Power-Assisted in Situ Casting[J]. Acta Metallurgica Sinica (English Letters), 2025, 38(10): 1765-1776.

Figures/Tables 10

Fig. 1 Schematic of experimental apparatus

Fig. 2 XRD patterns of Cu-TiB2 composites subjected to varying ultrasonic power

Fig. 3 OM a-d and SEM e-h images of as-cast Cu-TiB2 composites with different ultrasonic powers: a, e 0 W, b, f 500 W, c, g 1000 W, d, h 1500 W

Fig. 4 EBSD images of as-cast Cu-TiB2 composites at various ultrasonic power: a, b 0 W; c, d 1000 W

Fig. 5 Engineering stress-strain curves a, hardness, and conductivity trends b of as-cast Cu-TiB2 composites treated with different ultrasonic powers

Table 1 Tensile properties of as-cast Cu-TiB2 composites with different ultrasonic powers

Sample	UTS (MPa)	YS (MPa)	E.L. (%)
0 W UVT	166 ± 7	72 ± 4	20.0 ± 0.6
500 W UVT	197 ± 4	82 ± 3	25.3 ± 0.4
1000 W UVT	201 ± 6	85 ± 5	28.6 ± 0.3
1500 W UVT	185 ± 7	77 ± 4	24.1 ± 0.5

Fig. 6 Strain distributions obtained from the DIC of a 0 W UVT, b 1000 W UVT as-cast Cu-TiB2 composite

Fig. 7 Fracture morphologies of Cu-TiB2 composites as-cast with or without UVT: a, b 0 W UVT; c, d 1000 W UVT

Table 2 Changes of acoustic pressure, acoustic intensity density, and flow velocity with ultrasonic power

Ultrasonic power	A (μm)	P_k (MPa)	I (W cm⁻²⁾	V (m s⁻¹)
0 W UVT	0	0	0	0
500 W UVT	12.2	4.7	3238.9	1.08
1000 W UVT	17.3	6.6	6512.9	1.54
1500 W UVT	21.2	8.1	9780.3	1.88

Fig. 8 Schematic diagram illustrating the preparation mechanism of as-cast Cu-TiB2 composites under a low ultrasonic power, b high ultrasonic power, and c excessive ultrasonic power

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Microstructure Modification for Cu-TiB₂ Composites by Ultrasonic Power-Assisted in Situ Casting

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