Fabrication of (FeCo)-TiC Powder Composite by Combustion Synthesis Method

Metal matrix composites reinforced with TiC have achieved a lot of attention in recent years due to their excellent mechanical properties and wear resistance. Thus combustion synthesis of FeCo-TiC was studied in this research work. Powders of graphite, Cobalt and ferrotitanium (rather than elemental Ti which is very expensive) were used as starting materials. Raw materials were mixed and compacted into pellets. Samples were ignited in a tube furnace under flow of argon. The products were characterized by SEM and XRD. The results show that combustion synthesis of the powders leads to the formation of fine TiC embeded in FeCo alloy. The presence of cobalt in the sample resulted in a decrease in ignition temperature. Further reduction in ignition temperature (less than 10800C) was obtained by milling powder mixtures for 5 minutes. Maximum hardness of explosived products with 23% porosity was 760 HV0.1.