Self-Propagating High-Temperature Synthesis of Titanium Carbide Powder under Pressure-Shear Conditions

This paper presents results of an experimental study of the self-propagating high temperature synthesis (SHS) of titanium carbide powder under pressure in combination with high-temperature shear deformation. We have studied the effect of technologically important parameters, primarily that of the pressure and strain rate, on the synthesis process under pressure-shear conditions. The results demonstrate that a shear load applied to an incompletely formed material during synthesis may have a significant effect on the grain size and morphology, as well as on the mutual arrangement of structural constituents throughout the reaction system. Running the technological SHS process under pressure in combination with shear allows for the synthesis of refractory metals and comminution of the reaction products before cooling to room temperature in a single processing cycle.