Abstract
TiC particles (average size: 2.1μm) were coated with Ni by a chemical plating technique and the pressed compacts were sintered at about 1300°C. The density of sintered body was 98-99%. Compared with mechanically-mixed powder, Ni-plated TiC particles gave more uniform microstructure in which TiC particles were well dispersed in Ni matrix. The composites were subjected to ductile fracture at 30vol% TiC and brittle fracture at 70vol% TiC. The flexural strength was improved by homogeneous dispersion of TiC particles. The thermal expansion coefficient decreased with an increase in TiC content, following nearly the linear law of mixture on the basis of volume fractions of pure TiC and Ni.
