Preparation and microstructural analysis of Ti2AlC/TiAl(Nb) composite

By using the spark plasma sintering process, Ti2AlC/TiAl composite with the addition of Niobium (Nb) was prepared in-situ and the microstructure of Ti2AlC/TiAl (Nb) composite was investigated by means of transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and high-resolution electron microscopy (HREM). The results indicate that new-formed Ti2AlC particles disperse with a high degree of uniformity and well combine with the matrix. In the area of phase interface the d-spaces of Ti2AlC (100) and TiAl (I 10) were measured as 0.2648 nm and 0.2991 nm,respectively. The atom arrangement beside the interface was only partly corresponding, existing in semicoherent state. On the contrary, in the area of grain interface the d-spaces of TiAl (100) and TiAl (110) were measured as 0.2462 nm and 0.2631 nm, respectively and the atom arrangement beside the interface was almost corresponding, existing in coherent state.