Preparation of TiC-Ni nanocomposite powder by a metallothermic chloride reduction

TiC-Ni nanocomposite particles were directly prepared by a newly-developed metallothermic chloride reduction process. The procedures of the process were composed of the transfer of a TiCl4 + 1/2C(2)Cl(4) solution into a Mg-Ni molten alloy, the formation of titanium carbides by the reaction between Ti and C atoms released by the Mg-reduction of the chloride and the vacuum separation of the vaporized Mg and MgCl2, thereby forming TiC-Ni nanocomposite particles with a uniform structure, about 100 nm in size. The stoichiometry of the titanium carbide in produced composite was approximately TiC0.9, which is suitable for use in the tool industry.