Synthesis of TiC Particle Reinforced Aluminum Composite by Reactive Infiltration Process

A new synthetic process of composite material, reactive infiltration technique, in which both combustion synthesis and spontaneous infiltration are combined, was investigated. In this research, fabrication of TiC/Al composites was attempted by the in situ synthesis of TiC particles and the subsequent spontaneous infiltration of molten aluminum. The combustion synthesis of Ti-C-Al system is triggered by a reaction between titanium and aluminum at around 933 K, which is the melting point of aluminum. In the powder blend containing the optimum amount of aluminum, (Ti:C:Al=1:0.95:0.8-1.2), the synthesized Al-Ti intermetallics melted by their heat of reaction, and TiC particles were synthesized successfully. Heating the optimum powder blend with the aluminum ingot, the TiC particle reinforced Al composite was fabricated at low temperature during a short range of time.