Spark plasma sintering of TiC particle-reinforced molybdenum composites

► Mo-TiC composites with relative densities up to 98 % were successful prepared by spark plasma sintering. ► The TiC particles are cohesively bonded in the molybdenum matrix, because interdiffusion between molybdenum and TiC occurs. ► The addition of TiC particles to molybdenum leads to a significant hardness increase. ► Neither recrystallization nor grain growth occurs in the molybdenum phase of all composites.