TiB₂-TiC-Fe₂Ti composite synthesized by plasma heating reaction

TiB₂-TiC-Fe₂Ti composites were prepared by plasma heating synthesis with Ti, B₄C and Fe powders as the raw materials. The phase constitution, microstructure, micro-hardness and fracture morphology of TiB₂-TiC-Fe₂Ti were investigated. The experimental results show that the reaction products are composed of TiB₂, TiC, Fe₂Ti and a small amount of Fe₃C. The TiB₂, TiC and Fe₂Ti phases distribute homogeneously and present in different shapes, in which TiB₂ phases are in hexagonal or rectangular shapes and TiC in spherical ones, while Fe₂Ti phases existing in the gaps between TiC and TiB₂ phases promote the combination of phases. As the heating rate and the cooling rate of plasma beam are fast, the time of the grain growth would decrease and the fine structures can be obtained. With the increasing current, the heat will be higher to promote the growing of TiB₂and TiC, which would bond to each other tightly.