Combustion synthesis of TiC-based cemented carbide alloy and effect of preheating treatment on porosity

Abstract

In the present study, it is shown that TiC–20vol%Fe composites can be successfully fabricated by combustion synthesis from elemental powder compacts of titanium, carbon and iron. Particular concern is directed to reduction of the porosity in the product by preheating procedure of the powder compact. There exists 36% of porosity in the fabricated composites without the preheating treatment. However, the preheating treatment leads to the reduction of the volume fraction of porosity to about 10% and, furthermore, a two-step preheating treatment reduces the volume fraction of porosity down to about 5%. Vickers hardness of the TiC–Fe composites fabricated in this study was measured to be around 1300 HV regardless of the preheating condition.