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Structure Formation in the Combustion Synthesis of Al 2 O 3 –TiC Composites
Author(s) -
Xia Tian D.,
Munir Zuhair A.,
Tang Yan L.,
Zhao Wen J.,
Wang Tian M.
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
journal of the american ceramic society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.9
H-Index - 196
eISSN - 1551-2916
pISSN - 0002-7820
DOI - 10.1111/j.1151-2916.2000.tb01225.x
Subject(s) - corundum , materials science , whiskers , graphite , quenching (fluorescence) , titanium carbide , carbide , microstructure , agglomerate , titanium , combustion , composite material , metallurgy , chemical engineering , mineralogy , chemistry , physics , organic chemistry , quantum mechanics , engineering , fluorescence
Structure formation in the combustion synthesis of Al 2 O 3 –TiC composites from TiO 2 , Al, and graphite powders was investigated using cylindrical samples and cone‐shaped “quenching samples.” It is shown that the phases Ti and Ti 3 Al exist as intermediates in the combustion synthesis process. Titanium carbide forms in a secondary step through reactions between graphite and liquid Ti or Ti 3 Al, then nucleates from a liquid mixture of the three phases Ti, Ti 3 Al, and alumina. The nucleated particles grow in the postcombustion stage. Liquid alumina, containing TiC as a dissolved phase, solidifies into corundum grains in the postcombustion stage. Moreover, it is shown that the temperature gradient in the postcombustion stage markedly affects the microstructures of the products. Higher‐temperature gradients, typical at the surface of the samples, give rise to the formation of corundum whiskers and TiC agglomerates. In contrast, lower gradients, typical in the center of the samples, lead to the formation of relatively large TiC particles and corundum grains.