In Situ Synthesis of TiC-TiB2 Composites via High Energy Ball Milling and Pressureless Sintering

TiC-TiB2 composite ceramics were successfully fabricated via planetary ball milling of 72 mass% Ti and 28 mass % B4C powders, followed by low temperature sintering process at 1200°C. The microstructure of the ball-milled powder mixtures and composite ceramics were characterized by Differential thermal analysis equipment (DTA), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The results showed that the ball-milled powder mixtures (Ti and B4C powders) were completely transformed to TiC-TiB2 composite ceramics as the powders were milled for 60 h and sintered at 1200°C for 1 h. The formation mechanism of the TiC-TiB2 composite was discussed. The high energy ball milling and necessary sintering for the powder mixtures plays an important role in the formation of the composites.