Pore constitution and tortuosity factor of reactively synthesized porous TiAl intermetallic compound
(State Key Laboratory of Powder Metallurgy, Central South University, Changsha 410083, China)
Abstract: The pore constitution and tortuosity factor of porous TiAl intermetallic were studied on the basis of the variation behavior of pore structure parameters and the discrete particle model. The pore formation mechanism of porous TiAl is mainly ascribed to three aspects: the clearance space in green compact, the diffusive pores in the reaction process and the phase transition pores, resulting in the open porosities of 5.6%, 42.9% and 1.3%, respectively. According to the Hagen-Poiseuille equation, the tortuosity factor of porous TiAl is determined in the range of 1.3-2.2. Based on the discrete particle model and the variation rule of the tortuosity factor, the tortuosity factor depends mainly on the parameters of fabrication constant, particle shape factor, clearance distance and powder particle size. The quantitative relationships among them have been established, which can be used as the basis for adjusting the pore structure of porous intermetallics.
Key words: pore constitution; tortuosity factor; TiAl intermetallics; porous material; reactive synthesis