Self-assembled, aligned TiC nanoplatelet-reinforced titanium composites with outstanding compressive properties

TiC nanoplatelet-reinforced titanium composites were synthesized through a novel fabrication approach that combines resol nanosphere (10–30 nm) coating with conventional powder metallurgy. The resulting TiC nanoplatelets, 28–130 nm thick, are self-assembled, well aligned in each individual grain but randomly orientated throughout the microstructure. The as-sintered Ti–TiC composites exhibit outstanding compressive properties, with ultimate strength = 2.54 GPa, yield strength = 1.52 GPa and strain to fracture = 44.4%, stronger than all other advanced Ti materials reported to date.