Production and characterization of Al ₂ O ₃ and CeO ₂ ‐reinforced titanium matrix hybrid composites

Abstract Titanium matrix composites (TMCs) offer exceptional properties like high specific modulus, high specific strength, resistance to high temperatures and wear, and the potential to reduce weight. So, TMCs find uses in several industries, including automotive, maritime, aerospace, biomedical, petrochemical, structural, chemical, and advanced military sectors. In the present study, Al 2 O 3 and CeO 2 ‐reinforced TMCs were prepared via the powder metallurgy (P/M) method and microstructural, mechanical and tribological features were investigated. An Al 2 O 3 (5 wt.%) and CeO 2 (1, 2 and 3 wt.%) were reinforced into the TMCs via mechanical alloying (MA) for 5 h in a high‐energy ball mill. The mechanically alloyed (MA'ed) powders were compacted via hydraulic press under uniaxial pressure of 450 MPa. The compacted samples were sintered at 1200°C for 2 h in an argon atmosphere. By adding CeO 2 , the hardness, relative density and shrinkage were reduced, but the wear resistance and compressive strength were increased.