Effect of compact density and preheating temperature of the Al-Ti-C preform on the fabrication of in-situ Mg-TiC composites

Abstract

Magnesium reinforced in-situ TiC particulates was successfully synthesized utilizing the self-propagating high temperature synthesis (SHS) process. The result showed that preform temperature and compact density have a significant effect on the SHS reaction. When the compact density was 68 % of the theoretical density, no SHS reaction was observed. However, with an increase in density from 68 to 72 %, the successful thermal explosion reaction was observed in the Mg- melt. Besides, the effect of pre-heat temperature on the fabrication of Mg/TiC composite was extensively studied and it was found that the preheat temperature of 300 °C failed to give rise to SHS reaction. However, the increased pre-heat temperature of 450, 500 and 550 °C favors the reaction inside the liquid melt, but when the temperature is 600 °C, the ignition reaction occurred in the preheating furnace itself. © CSIR-National Metallurgical Laboratory, Jamshedpur-831007, India, 2011.