Carbide formation in Al-Ti mechanical alloys

Formation of aluminum and titanium carbides was observed in Al-Ti mechanical alloys prepared with stearic acid as process control agent. Thermal analysis showed that Al4C3 forms as a result of carbon contamination together with Al3Ti phases, which react at ∼900 °C to form TiC1−x and Al melt. This transition causes a previously unexplained equilibrium transition.