THE ONE-STEP SYNTHESIS OF DENSE TITANIUM-CARBIDE TILES

Self-propagating, high-temperature synthesis (SHS), which is nn attrac tive process for forming alloys, cermets, ceramics, and composites, ha s been combined with a rapid quasi-isostatic consolidation technology called the Ceracon(TM) process. This one-step synthesis and,densificat ion route has been applied to the rapid fabrication of large 15 cm x15 cm x2.5 cm titanium carbide tiles. A cost analysis of this process ba sed on prototype quantities shows that the cost of the process is 30-5 0% of that of current manufacturing processes.