Synthesis of TiC and Ti/TiC composites by reaction milling followed by hotconsolidation of Ti with graphite or heptane

Synthesis of TIC and Ti/TiC composite has been conducted by mechanical allo ying and following Spark-Plasma-Sintering starting from elemental Ti powder with graphite or heptane. From graphite, formation of TiC takes place rapi dly after a definite period of milling while it proceeds gradually from hep tane. The apparent compositional range of Ti1-xCx is extended to a C/Ti rat io as low as 30/70 when graphite is used, while a mixture of Ti and TiC is obtained at a C/Ti ratio of 32/68 with heptane. Sintering can proceed at su bstantially lower temperatures compared with the conventional process, the sintering temperature decreasing with lower C/Ti ratios. The lattice parame ter of TiC and the density of the compacts decrease with lower C/Ti ratios, but are larger than previously reported ones through conventional methods. The mechanism which causes the differences between graphite and heptane is discussed with respect to the reaction process during milling.