Abstract：Ta-2Ti-xTiC (x=0, 0.5, 1.0, 2.0 and 4.0, mass fraction, %) composites were prepared by plasma activated sintering method. The effects of TiC on the microstructure and mechanical properties of the composites were studied. The results show that with the increase of TiC content, the relative density of the composites increases first and then decreases, and the relative density of Ta-2Ti-0.5TiC reaches the highest value of 99.5%. The addition of TiC can inhibit the grain growth, and the grain size decreases with the increase of TiC content. When the TiC content is 4.0%, the grain size decreases to 2.98 µm. TiC undergoes decarburization reaction at high temperature, and the generated C reacts with Ta to generate high-hardness ceramic phase Ta2C in situ, which plays a role in bridging matrix grains and hindering crack propagation. The mechanical properties of Ta-2Ti-TiC composites improve with increasing TiC content, which is attributed to the benefits from grain refinement and in-situ generation of Ta2C high-hardness ceramic phase.
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2022, Vol. 27 
