Reaction behavior of TiC/Cu composite via thermal explosion reaction (TE) under Ar and air atmosphere

•The TiC/Cu composites were fabricated in Cu–Ti–C system via thermal explosion reaction under Ar and air, respectively.•The composites reacted in air and Ar atmosphere had the similar microstructure and phase constituents.•The ignition temperature for thermal explosion reaction under air is much lower than that under Ar atmosphere.

Thermal explosion (TE) reaction behavior of Cu–Ti–C system with various Cu contents under air and Ar were investigated, respectively. Under two atmospheres, increasing Cu content can increase the ignition temperature and decrease the maximum temperature. The ignition temperature under air is much lower than that under Ar. The composite reacted under two atmospheres have the similar microstructure and phase constituent. Under air, on the surface of the compact, the oxidation and nitridation of Ti and the oxidation of Cu reduced the ignition temperature. The dissolution–diffusion–precipitation mechanism caused the formation of TiC under air, which was same as that under Ar.