Self-propagating high temperature synthesis (SHS) of titanium carbide

摘要

Self propagating high temperature synthesis (SHS) has found applications in recent years for preparing intermetallics and advanced high temperature materials such as carbides, borides, silicides and nitrides [1,2]. Applications, advantages, fundamental and technological aspects of SHS have been reviewed in the literature [3,4]. This technique has inherent advantages over conventional methods, which require high temperature furnaces and longer processing times. Materials produced by SHS method have advantages such as high purity [5], low energy requirements and relative simplicity of the process [6], Owing to the high cooling rates, high defect concentrations and non-equilibrium structures exist in the SHS produced materials, resulting in more reactive metastable, and thus more sinterable, products [7]. Titanium carbide is a technologically important material for cutting tool applications, armours and as composites for tape heads in the electronic industry because of its high hardness (20-30 GPa), good strength (500-600 MPa) and moderate fracture toughness (4-4.5 MPam1/2). Ni, CO, Fe have been used as sintering aids for cutting tool applications.