Reactive infiltration of TiN powder preform with molten aluminum for the fabrication of nitride ceramics composite

Abstract

Reactive infiltration of a blended powder preform containing TiN with molten aluminum was attempted at temperatures ranging from 1173 K to 1673 K in order to fabricate nitride ceramics composite. Titanium powder as an infiltration aid was mixed with TiN powder (particle sizes: 53 μm and 1.0-1.5μm) by various blending ratios. Spontaneous infiltration of the blended powder with molten aluminum occurred on condition that processing temperature and titanium content in the blended powder were high enough. Spontaneous infiltration took place when processing temperature was 1673 K (TiN: 53 pm) or processing temperature was over 1173 K (TiN: 1.0-1.5μm). It was confirmed that Al3Ti and TiN were the main constituents after the infiltration was completed. SiC whisker was added in the blended perform powder (TiN: 1.0-1.5μm. Ti: <45 μm) by various blending ratios (4-30vol%). The results showed that SiC whiskers were successfully dispersed by up to 10 vol% in the Al3//TiN ceramics composite. © 2008 The Japan Institute of Light Metals.