Rapid synthesis of Ti(C, N) powders by mechanical alloying and subsequent arc discharging

Ti(C,N) powders were synthesized by mechanical alloying (MA) from a mixture of pure titanium and graphite under a nitrogen atmosphere in a planetary mill. Effects of arc discharging on phase transformation and microstructure of MA powders milled for 1-7 h were explored. The results show that Ti(C,N) powders were prepared after mechanical milling for 1 h and subsequent arc discharge treatment, whereas the synthesis reaction did not occur in 7 h by mechanical milling alone. The ions produced during arc discharging interacted with powder particles and accelerated the diffusion of atoms and the nucleation on the surface of the as-milled powder, which results in fast synthesis of Ti(C,N) powders. The formation mechanisms of the two synthesis processes are self-propagating reactive synthesis.