Atom Probe Tomography Analysis of TiC Powders Synthesized by SHS in Al/Fe/Cu-Ti-C Systems
Shenbao Jin1, Haokai Su1, Gang Sha1
1Herbert Gleiter Institute of Nanoscience, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Nanjing University of Science and Technology, Nanjing 210094, China.
Abstract:
The stoichiometry of titanium carbide (TiC) particles is important in determining particle properties. Spherical TiC powders with particle sizes of 1-5 μm were produced by self-propagating high-temperature synthesis (SHS) in 30 wt.% Al-, 30 wt.% Cu-, and 30 wt.% Fe-Ti-C systems, respectively. To measure the compositions of the carbide powders, atom probe tomography (APT) tip specimens were carefully prepared by using a focus ion-beam milling method. APT analysis revealed that the TiC particles formed in Al-, Cu-, and Fe-Ti-C systems are highly substoichiometric. The results are consistent with observations of the TiC particles with a high content of oxygen and a certain amount of secondary metallic elements (Al, Cu, and Fe).
