TiC-based cermet prepared by high-energy ball-milling and reactive spark plasma sintering

• Published in: Ceramics international 2017-02, Vol.43 (2), p.2448-2455
• Main Authors: Jam, Alireza, Nikzad, Leila, Razavi, Mansour
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Mechanical properties; Milling; SPS; TiC-based cermet
• ISSN: 0272-8842; 1873-3956
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ceramint.2016.11.039

In this study the fabrication of dense TiC-13% vol Fe cermet is investigated with combination of mechanical activation and spark plasma sintering from Ferrotitanium and carbon black as reactants. Milling of reactants was carried out at different times of 0, 1, 3, 5, 10h. Sintering behavior and formation mechanism of TiC-Fe composite from unmilled powders was investigated at different temperature of 600–1200°C. The experimental data of sintering and X-ray diffraction patterns demonstrate that TiC phase formation was governed by rapid combustion-type behavior from unmilled powders at temperature about 600°C. Optimum condition of sintering (maximum density about: 5.10g/cm3) was obtained at temperature of 1100°C and pressure of 30MPa. Also the influence of reactants milling on sintering behavior, density of bulk products and mechanical properties was investigated. Sintering of all powders was done at optimum condition (temperature of 1100°C and pressure of 30MPa). With milling of the reactants, because of formation of TiC during milling, the sintering behavior and SPS process dynamics was significantly changed. As a consequence of mechanical milling, the densities were decreased from 5.10g/cm3 (unmilled powder) to 4.52g/cm3 for the case of 10h milled powders. But with milling of reactant at 1, 3 and 5h, in comparison with unmilled reactants, mechanical properties were improved, so that the hardness and flexural strength for consolidated sample from 3h milled reactants were 89.4±2 HRA and 724±27MPa respectively.