Formation Factors and Morphological Characteristics of TiC in Carbon Fiber Reinforced Titanium Sintering Process

Abstract:

The α-Ti and C fiber composite material samples was produced through pressure-less sintering in argon atmosphere with different process parameters such as sintering temperature and carbon fiber morphology, using Ti powder and carbon fiber as raw materials. During the sintering, TiC was generated from the reactions of Ti atom and C atom between Ti and carbon fiber with the trend of the carbon fiber oriented TiC fiber formation, which was proved by the scanning electron microscopic analysis, micro-component analysis and XRD analysis. The influence of process parameters on TiC formation and its micro- -morphology was observed by additional analysis of microstructure and micro-hardness. The results showed that, with the increase of sintering temperature, the morphology of TiC, formed at the interface of Ti matrix and carbon fiber, changed dramatically from a dense fibrous shape to the fibrous shape composed of remarkable transformation particles during the sintering. However, dispersible granular TiC was produce by the addition of carbon fiber powder.

Key words:Sintering; Carbon fiber; Ti matrix; TiC fiber