Effect of Composite-Region Fraction and TiCp Content on the Mechanical Properties of H13 Steel Matrix Composites with Honeycomb Architecture

In order to improve the strength and toughness-matching of metal matrix composites and enhance the mechanical properties of ceramic-reinforced iron matrix composites with a honeycomb architecture, TiCp/H13 steel composites with a honeycomb architecture were successfully prepared using squeeze-infiltration technology, in which the composite region was the honeycomb wall and the steel matrix was the honeycomb core. The effects of the composite-region fraction and TiCp content in the composite region on the compressive mechanical properties of the composites were studied, and the fracture mode and cracking behavior were analyzed. The results show that TiCp was evenly distributed in the composites region, and the interface of TiCp/H13 steel was tightly bonded without obvious defects. With the same TiCp content, the compressive strength of honeycomb-architecture composites first increased and then decreased with the increase in the composite-region volume fraction, and the highest strength was obtained at 50 vol.% of the composite region. The influence factor of the composite-region volume fraction on the strength was -38.3 MPa/%. Meanwhile, the fracture strain of the architecture composites decreased gradually. The influence factor of the composite-region volume fraction on plasticity was -0.25%/%. With the same composite-region fraction, both the compressive strength and plasticity of the composite decreased gradually with the increase in TiCp content (35 vol.%, 50 vol.%, and 65 vol.%). The influence factor of TiCp content on the strength was -21.4 MPa/%, and its influence factor on plasticity was -0.34%/%. The maximum compressive strength (2288.1 MPa) was obtained in the architecture composite with 50 vol.% of the composite region and 35 vol.% of TiCp, and the highest plasticity (25.9%) was obtained for the architecture composite, with 35 vol.% of the composite region and 35 vol.% of TiCp. Compared to those of common ZTA/iron honeycomb-architecture composites, the comprehensive mechanical properties of the TiCp/H13 steel matrix honeycomb-architecture composites were greatly improved. It showed good energy-absorption characteristics during compression.