In order to improve the mechanical and physicochemical properties of（TiC+TiB）/Ti-6 Al-4 V titanium matrix composites

electroless nickel plating was carried out on the surface of titanium matrix composites

and the microstructure evolution and properties were investigated by isothermal heat treatment at different temperatures.The results indicate that after electroless nickel plating

a variety of NiTi compounds

such as NiTi

Ni

3

Ti and Ti

2

Ni

can be formed firstly on the surface of the materials during the pre-diffusion process of（TiC+TiB）/Ti-6 Al-4 V titanium matrix composites at high temperature. The nickel element in the surface layer is mainly diffused along the phase boundary

and the morphology of matrix structure and the type of compound phase are transformed with the change of heat treatment temperature. The lamellar eutectoid structure appears in the matrix structure at 950 ℃

and the continuously increasing temperature results in the severe coarseness of structure and disappear of lamellar structure. The hardness of the specimens is first decreased and then increased with the increase of heat treatment temperature.