Hidefumi Harada

Synthesis and Evaluation of Potassium Hexatitanate Fibers Useful as a Reinforcing Material for Aluminum Alloys.

A conversion process from potassium tetratitanate fibers into potassium hexatitanate fibers was investigated to develop potassium hexatitanate fibers which are usable as a filler for fiberreinforced aluminum alloys. Calcined potassium tetratitanate fibers were dispersed in water. By titrating the above mentioned suspension with an aqueous HC1 solution to adjust the pH value at 9.0, the fibers with TiO2O/K2O molar ratio=6.02 was obtained. The product thus obtained was heated at 1000°C for 30min, then highly crystallized potassium hexatitanate fibers having a crystallite size of 76nm were obtained. An AC4C aluminum alloy matrix composite reinforced with the obtained potassium hexatitanate fibers was fabricated by squeeze casting. Mechanical properties were examined on the obtained composites. The hardness of the composite was uniform at any locations. The mechanical properties of the composites increased by theT6 heat treatment.