Scientific Challenge

Titanium alloys typically exhibit an inverse relationship between strength and ductility (the Strength-Ductility Trade-off).

Solution: Dual-Structure Design

Using EIGA powder preparation combined with SPS sintering, Prof. Chen constructed a unique networked heterostructure:

  • Coarse-grain zone (Soft phase): Provides excellent plastic deformation capacity
  • Fine-grain reinforced zone (Hard phase): Rich in TiB whiskers, providing ultra-high strength

Key Discovery: Hetero-Deformation Induced (HDI) Strengthening

Deformation at the soft-hard interface generates large numbers of geometrically necessary dislocations (GNDs), producing significant back stress effects that simultaneously enhance both strength and ductility. Published in PNAS.

Representative Papers

  1. [PNAS] Loss-free tensile ductility of dual-structure titanium composites via an interdiffusion and self-organization strategy. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci., 2023
  2. Microstructure and mechanical properties of nano TiB whisker-reinforced titanium matrix composites using atomized Ti-TiB composite powder. Composites Part B: Engineering, 2025