Reaction Heat Sintering Using HIP-Densification of TiC-Ni Composites

A new sintering method using HIP which we call the reaction heat sintering has been developed.This method enables to densify the ceramics instantaneously by the high heat supply from the combustion agent of Ti and C under argon gas pressure. Dense TiC ceramics fabricated without additives showed a unique microstructure having the micro pores being dispersed within TiC grains and high fracture toughness of 5 MPam1/2. Nickel metal powders were added in various compositions up to 90 wt% and densified. Based on these experiments, the functionally gradient material of TiC-Ni system was fabricated by the reaction heat sintering.