Synthesis of TiC_x/Al Composites via In Situ Reaction between Al_xTi Melt and Dissolvable Solid Carbon

Abstract

TiCx/Al composites were successfully prepared in this study by dissolving graphite particles in Al-Ti melt based on the principle of a solid–liquid in situ reaction. It was observed that the microstructure of the TiCx/Al composites changed with changes in the reaction temperature and graphite particle size. With an increase in reaction temperature, the TiCx particles in the TiCx/Al composites transitioned from a spider-like distribution to being evenly dispersed in the Al matrix. Additionally, the morphology of the TiCx particles changed from polygons of various sizes to quasi-spherical shapes with a uniform particle size, while the presence of Al4C3 and Al3Ti in the matrix diminished. The size variation of the graphite particles had minimal impact on the particle size and stoichiometric ratio of TiCx generated in the sample. Furthermore, an appropriate graphite particle size was found to mitigate the agglomeration and residue of graphite particles during the in situ reaction.

Keywords

• particle-reinforced composites
• Al-Ti alloy
• TiC_x
• microstructure formation mechanism