Effect of C/Ti ratio on the laser ignited self-propagating high-temperature synthesis reaction of Al–Ti–C system for fabricating TiC/Al composites

TiC/Al composite was successfully synthesized utilizing laser ignited self-propagating high-temperature synthesis (SHS) of Al–C–Ti system with the different C/Ti molar ratio. When the molar ratio of C to Ti is below 1:1 in the starting materials, in addition to fine TiC particulates, a large amount of Al3Ti phase was found in the composites; however, when the molar ratio of C to Ti is 1:1 in the starting materials, the Al3Ti phase was almost completely eliminated and the distribution of TiC particulates generally appeared to be more homogeneous throughout the products synthesized.