Simultaneous synthesis and densification of titanium nitride by high pressure combustion synthesis

Titanium nitride (TiN) has attractive physical and chemical properties such as hardness, chemical stability and electrical conductivity. It is a typic al material with a wide range of stoichiometry. High-pressure combustion sy nthesis is a method which allows simultaneous synthesis and densification o f titanium nitride. The composition and microstructures can vary with the e xperimental conditions especially with thermal treatment and nitrogen press ure. We have shown that for compaction pressure of 98 MPa, under a nitrogen pressure of 200 MPa, a maximum of atomic nitrogen content of 46.5% can be reached in dense titanium nitride. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All right s reserved.