Abstract
MC precursor powders were produced by ball-milling of Ti-C-B (2:1:2) mixed powders for various times of 10-40 h using a planetary ball mill at rotary speed of 290/650 rpm. TiC-TiB2 composites were produced by reactive hot-pressing of the MC precursors at 1400-2000°C. The hardness generally increases with densification and decreaes with the increase of crystallite size. The densification is enhanced by sintering temperature, heat of reaction and fineness of mixed powders produced by ball-milling. Maximum values of the relative density and the micro-Vicker's hardness of the composite were 97.5% and 25.5 GPa, respectively, for the milling time, 20h and the sintering temperature, 1900°C.
