Synthesis of TiC/Ni cermets via mechanically activated self-propagating high-temperature synthesis.

Stoichiometric mixtures of Ti and C were milled in a high-energy vibratory mill for varying times and the results carefully characterized via X-ray diffraction and TEM. Cermets of stoichiometric TiC and 20 w% Ni were combustion. synthesized from non-milled and milled reactant powders, resulting in porous solids composed of roughly spherical TiC particles surrounded by a layer of Ni. Time resolved infrared analysis shows that the kinetics of the reaction performed with milled reactant powders are drastically enhanced over non-milled reactants. This result may be attributed to the microstructure and uniformity of the milled reactant mixtures. It is also demonstrated that mechanical milling of Ti and C powders strongly affects the TiC grain size in the products, most likely due to a reduction in TiC crystal growth as a consequence of the increase in the reaction kinetics.