Effect of microstructure on mechanical properties of net-structured TiBw/TA15 composite subjected to hot plastic deformation

A ring of net-structured TiBw/TA15 composite is compressed near the β-transus temperature to investigate the microstructural evolution and determine the effect of the microstructure on properties after hot plastic deformation. The deformed net microstructure is predicted by performing numerical simulations, and the results agree with the experimental data. The Lode's parameter is introduced to estimate the deformation states of net-structured TiBw/TA15 composite, and it is dominated by the deformed morphology of the net microstructure. Then, the quantitative relationships between morphological parameters (axial length ratio λ) of the net microstructure for the reinforcements and strain are established. The corresponding properties at different positions of the deformed ring are tested under room temperature compression. A λ_max model of the possible fracture plane is built to evaluate and understand the variation in mechanical properties, and the results show that the compressive properties are closely related to λ_max. The present work will help to design appropriate hot processing methods for net-structured TiBw/TA15 composites and to optimize the microstructure and mechanical properties of complex parts.