Combustion synthesis of TiC/Fe–Cu composites under an electric field

Composite of TiC/Fe was in situ synthesized by field-assisted combustion synthesis method (FACS) in one step from elemental powders of Fe, Cu, Ti and C. The effect of carbon source and graphite particle size on the combustion synthesis of TiC/Fe composites was investigated. With the action of an electric field, a relatively low ignition temperature between 740 and 774 °C for the combustion synthesis of Fe–Cu–Ti–C system can be achieved. It was shown that the ignition temperature using carbon black as carbon source was lower than that of using graphite of the same size. In addition, the ignition temperature decreased with the decrease of graphite size. The shrinkages of the synthesized products during the synthesis reaction were measured. The Vickers microhardness value were in a range of 166–284 HV.

► TiC/Fe–Cu composites have been in situ synthesized under an electric field.
► Effect of carbon source on the synthesis of Fe–Cu–Ti–C system was studied.
► The ignition temperature decreases with the decrease of graphite size.