Synthesis and characterization of TiC-reinforced iron-based composites. Part I: On synthesis and microstructural characterization

• Published in: Journal of materials science Vol. 39; no. 18; pp. 5735 - 5742
• Main Authors: BANDYOPADHYAY, T. K, CHATTERJEE, S, DAS, K
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Heidelberg Springer 01-09-2004; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Aluminothermic reduction; Aluminum; Applied sciences; Cross-disciplinary physics: materials science; rheology; Dispersion-, fiber-, and platelet-reinforced metal-based composites; Exact sciences and technology; Exothermic reactions; Extraction plants; High temperature; Iron; Materials science; Metals. Metallurgy; Microstructure; Other materials; Particulate composites; Physics; Sand; Self propagating high temperature synthesis; Specific materials; Thermit; Titanium carbide; Scanning electron microscopy; Combustion synthesis; Metal matrix composite; In situ; Reuse; Iron; Raw materials; Dispersion reinforced material; Self propagating high temperature synthesis; XRD; Experimental study; Non oxide ceramics; Growth from liquid; Fabrication; Titanium Carbides; Composite materials; Industrial wastes; Microstructure
• ISSN: 0022-2461; 1573-4803
• DOI: 10.1023/B:JMSC.0000040083.98097.c3

The present investigation establishes a liquid processing route where thermit based reactions have been used to synthesize in-situ TiC-reinforced Fe-based composites in a single step. The main raw material used is siliceous sand, which is a "waste" product of aluminum extraction plants. A dispersion of TiC in Fe-based matrix has been obtained by aluminothermic reduction of siliceous sand, containing oxides of different elements like iron, titanium, silicon etc., in the presence of carbon. The reduction is highly exothermic in nature and leads to a self-propagating high-temperature synthesis (SHS) of the Fe-TiC composites. The matrix structure and volume fraction of TiC of the composites have been found to depend upon the amount of carbon added in the charge. It has been found that microstructures of Fe-TiC composites are not stable at high temperature due to the nonstoichiometric nature of TiC particles.