Fabrication of the TiC matrix composite with the intragranular Al2O3 using carbon fibers as carbon source

A new route was provided to obtain the TiC matrix composite with the intragranular Al2O3 using carbon fibers as carbon source by spark plasma sintering. The formation of the intragranular Al2O3 was mainly attributed to the limited diffusion of C element by the fiber structure and the different migration rates of TiC matrix grain boundaries and Al2O3 grain boundaries during the sintering process. In this paper, simultaneous introduction of TiSi2 and SiC at interfaces and Al2O3 within matrix particles was used to enhance the mechanical and tribological properties of the TiC matrix composite. The TiC matrix composite exhibited the bulk density, relative density, hardness, fracture toughness and flexural strength of 4.76 g/cm(3), 99.36%, 19.07 GPa, 7.41 MPa.m(1/2), and 704.6 MPa, respectively. The friction coefficient and wear rate of the TiC matrix composite at room temperature and 500 degrees C reached the values of 0.54 and 9.84x10(-10) mm3N(-1)m(-1) and 0.51 and 3.99x10-9 mm(3)N(-1)m(-1), respectively.