J Mater Sci Technol ›› 2011, Vol. 27 ›› Issue (3): 239-244.

• Novel Processing and Characterization Methods • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Fabrication, Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of TiC/Ti2AlC/TiAl3 in situ Composite

Lu Shi1), Jianfeng Zhang1), Lianjun Wang2), Wan Jiang1,2), Lidong Chen1)   

  1. 1) State Key Laboratory of High Performance Ceramics and Superfine Microstructure, Shanghai Institute of Ceramics, Chinese Academy of Science, Shanghai 200050, China
    2) State Key Laboratory for Modification of Chemical Fibers and Polymer Materials, Donghua University, Shanghai 201620, China
  • Received:2009-04-16 Revised:2010-08-23 Online:2011-03-28 Published:2011-03-21
  • Contact: Wan Jiang

Abstract: This paper described a process for synthesizing a new multiphase TiC/Ti2AlC/TiAl3 composite, in which Ti, Al4C3 and graphite powders were utilized as raw materials, and in situ spark plasma sintering-reactive sintering (SPS-RS) methods were involved. The intermediate phases of Ti3Al and TiAl were found during the reactive sintering process and the reactions for the phase's formation were proposed. The microstructure and mechanical properties of the composites were investigated. The high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) image of the interface showed that no amorphous phases were detected along the grain boundary. The orientation relationships between the Ti2AlC and the TiC were shown to be (0001)Ti2AlCjj(111)TiC and
[1210]Ti2AlC||[110]TiC. The average hardness, fracture toughness, Young's modulus and bending strength of the composite were 15.1±0.8 GPa, 4.9±0.3 MPa?m1/2, 261±13 GPa and 776±18 MPa, respectively. The toughening mechanism was also discussed.

Key words: Ceramic, Sintering, Mechanical properties, Microstructure