Spark plasma sintering of titanium matrix composite—a review

Based on the need to fabricate new or modified materials that possess demanding mechanical and wear properties that are needed for operation in extreme environmental conditions, it is necessary to understand the fundamentals of such materials based on their physical metallurgy and fabrication techniques to match up with industrial growth. The unique properties of titanium and its alloys have prompted research into ways of improving their utilization as a potential candidate for applications in extreme conditions. A way to improve the mechanical properties of titanium and its alloy is to develop a titanium matrix composite by adding ceramic reinforcements and choosing the appropriate fabrication route and parameters. The development of titanium matrix composites, the fabrication methods, and the incorporation of reported research works are discussed in this review. This serves to give a wide range of understanding into the development of titanium matrix composites.