Nanostructured metastable cermets of Ti–Al2O3 through activated SHS reaction

Cermets of Ti–Al2O3 are materials with promising applications in diverse fields like aeronautical or automobile industries. Recently, combustion synthesis (CS) has been used for its synthesis with very good results. In this paper, it is reported the use of self-propagating high-temperature synthesis (SHS) to obtain a metastable nanocrystalline cermet of alumina and titanium. As combustion synthesis is not self-sustaining, activation of the process has been made, either by applying field activation combustion synthesis (FACS) or by chemical activation, depending upon the conductivity of the sample. Quenching of reaction has allowed obtaining a metastable product with the configuration of high-temperature. Obtained materials have been characterised by SEM and XRD. Rietveld quantitative phase analysis and crystallite size calculations have been performed.