Synthesis of TiС–ZrC Composite with Submicron Structure by Electro-Thermal Explosion under Pressure

Abstract: Ultra-high-temperature TiC–ZrC composites with submicron structure were synthesized by electro-thermal explosion (ETE) under pressure. The precursors for synthesis were prepared from a mixture containing Ti, Zr, and carbon black powders by high energy ball milling in hexane. The influence of mechanical activation (MA) on the metal crystalline structure was studied. It was shown that the phase composition of the precursor depends on MA duration. The partial amorphization of metal particles occurred after 40 min of MA; while after 90 min, the amorphization was completed. In the last case, carbide phase crystallites with a cubic structure were formed. It was shown that the composite synthesized from precursor activated for 40 min contains Zr_0.50Ti_0.50C single-phase solid solution with a grain size of 3–5 μm, while the composite synthesized from precursor activated for 90 min consists of Zr_0.14Ti_0.86C and Zr_0.74Ti_0.26C phases with a grain size of about 0.2 μm. The Vickers hardness of composites with a residual porosity of no more than 10% was found to be in the range from 11.3 to 18.53 GPa.