Microscopic and spectroscopic analyses of TiC powder synthesized by thermal plasma technique

Nonoxide ceramics titanium carbide (TiC) has been prepared from ilmenite by using an extended arc plasma reactor under Ar atmosphere with an optimum time period of 20 min. The TiC product obtained after the acid treatment is of high purity and well comparable to the commercial available powder. The XRD and Raman analyses clearly predict that the product contains only TiC matrix without having any impurity. The particle size measurement and scanning electron micrograph predict that the range of the powders is within 10 μm whereas the commercial powder has a broad range from 10 to 80 μm.

Graphical abstractFigure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slideHighlights► Synthesis of TiC powder from ilmenite by thermal plasma treatment. ► Complete conversion of ilmenite to Fe-TiC composites is Optimized to 20 minutes. ► Globular TiC particles found embedded in the iron matrix. ► Confirmation of TiC phase through XRD, Raman and FTIR studies.