Insights into Alignment of Ti3alc2 Particles Through Plastic Deformation of Ag/Ti3alc2 Composites

Abstract

This work investigated the plastic deformation behavior of Ag/Ti3AlC2 composites at different temperatures (400-600 ℃) and strain rates (10-3-1 s-1) by Gleeble thermal simulations. The flow stress analysis revealed DRX and DRV as primary softening mechanisms, influenced by temperature and strain rate. The constitutive equation was derived and the mean activation energy of the material was 143.8 kJ/mol, demonstrating excellent processing performance. Optimal deformation parameters were temperature at 400-600 °C and strain rate at 0.001-0.01 s-1. Combined with microstructure analysis, the flow of the matrix can make the reinforcement evenly distributed and the Ti3AlC2 particles had a stronger oriented alignment at 400-500 ℃. Under the influence of the orientation and stress level, the Ti3AlC2 particles experienced rotation, slip, kink, delamination and fracture during plastic deformation.

Keywords: Ag/Ti3AlC2 composites, plastic deformation, Processing maps, Orientation, Thermal simulation