In situ synthesis of Fe(Co)/TiC composite by self-propagating high temperature and mechanochemical methods

Abstract

Fe(Co) composite locally reinforced with in situ TiC particulates was successfully synthesised utilizing the mechanochemical and self-propagating high temperature synthesis (SHS) reaction of FeTi–Co–C system. The microstructure of the Fe(Co)/TiC composite was investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). With the help of differential thermal analysis (DTA), the reaction path of the FeTi–Co–C system was studied. X-ray patterns exhibited gradual formation of TiC during 5–10 h milling process. DTA results indicated that Co has considerable effects on thermal behaviour of this system, which reduced ignition temperature to 1025°C. By comparing these results, it was found that the Fe(Co)–TiC composite could be fabricated using both methods although finer structure and better reinforcement dispersion was obtained via mechanochemical technique.

Keywords:

• Metal matrix composites
• Fe(Co)–TiC powder
• Nanocomposite
• Mechanical alloying
• Combustion synthesis