Fabrication and characterization of TiC/Al composites

TiC/Al composites were fabricated by heating the powder mixture compacts consisting of Al and TiC in Ar. The effects of particle size of TiC as starting materials and cooling rate on microstructure of the composites were investigated. Further, the relationship between bending strength and microstructure of the composites was discussed. In case of heating the powder mixture compacts of 5:1 (mol ratio)=Al (10 μm): TiC (1–3 μm) at 1000–1500°C for 1 h, they became 95–97% in relative density. When the powder mixture compact was heated at 1100°C for 1 h and cooled to room temperature at a rate of 2°C/min, threadlike parts at which Al concentrated were formed in the compact. Then the average bending strength of the compact decreased to 270 from 400 MPa of the compact without Al concentrate parts, that was obtained by rapid cooling after the heating.