Combustion Synthesis of Porous TiC/Ti Composite by a Self-Propagating Mode

Porous titanium carbide (TiC) and TiC/Ti composites were synthesized by self-propagating high-temperature synthesis (SHS). Titanium and carbon powders were blended by various Ti/C blending ratios. The heat of reaction between titanium and carbon was high enough to induce the self-sustaining reaction of TiC formation on condition that some processing parameters (Ti/C ratio and porosity of the precursor) were appropriately selected. When the Ti/C blending ratio was high, the excess amount of titanium absorbed the heat of reaction. Consequently, the heated zone was not heated up to the ignition temperature. On the other hand, when the Ti/C ratio was low, high thermal conductivity of the precursor prevented an ignition of the heated side of precursors. The pore morphology was controlled by changing the Ti/C ratio and the preheat temperature.