Functionally Gradient Ceramic - Titanium Metal Materials

ISC proposes a 6-month program to demonstrate feasibility of employing ceramic-faced titanium appliques in near-term light and medium vehicles. Specifically, functional gradient ceramic-titanium materials (FGMs) will be fabricated by vacuum cathodic arc - a high throughput, low temperature industrial process - capable of handling large, complex shapes and wide range of material systems. FGMs produced by cathodic arc are fully dense and adhere well to the substrate. The FGM layer is deposited beneath the surface of the ceramic substrate and then grown outward with its composition changing gradually from 100% ceramic to 100% titanium. The FGM is brazed to a titanium alloy backplate by liquid interface diffusion - a commercial process that has been used for over 20 years to bond titanium. In Phase I, two FGM systems will be selected for study based on a review of existing ceramic property database and the compatibility of the ceramic with titanium. FGMs 100 mm square will be fabricated and the influence of material parameters and process variables on microstructure, compositional transition and gradient properties will be determined. Selected systems will be modelled using MARRS and limited ballistic tests conducted. An excellent support team has been assembled: Alme and Associates, UDRI, Ceradyne, and Rohr Industries.