Fabrication of TiC/Cu composites by combustion synthesis in Cu-Ti-C system

Copper matrix composites reinforced with TiC particles which were formed in situ by a combustion reaction between titanium and carbon were fabricated from a powder mixture of Cu, Ti and C. The effects of igniting method, preheating, and composition on the combustion reaction for the Cu-Ti-C system were investigated. The copper matrix composites including 20 to 80 vol%TiC could be fabricated by heating directly using the heater. The use of an ignitor is not useful for self-propagating combustion reaction, but preheating can help the self-propagation, When the mole ratio of Ti to C was 1 : 1, residual graphite was observed in the synthesized composites as well as copper matrix and TiC reinforcements. However, hardly any graphite remained in the composite in which the mole ratio was 1 : 0.75. The combustion reaction between Ti and C in the Cu-Ti-C system initiated near the melting point of pure copper, suggesting that the reaction is initiated by the formation of liquid copper.