Influence of titanium content in a copper melt on the structure of a TiC–C–Cu(Ti) composite produced by SHS infiltration

Copper-matrix composites reinforced with TiC grains and containing graphite particles were fabricated by self-propagating high-temperature synthesis (SHS) of titanium carbide followed by infiltration of a Cu–Ti melt into a hot TiC–graphite skeleton. The samples were produced by pressing powder mixtures into bilayer cylindrical compacts: the upper layer consisted of Cu + Ti, while the lower layer contained (Ti + C) + graphite. During heating, combustion was initiated in the lower layer, resulting in the formation of porous titanium carbide and its subsequent infiltration by the Cu–Ti melt from the upper layer. As a result of SHS infiltration, TiC–C–Cu(Ti) composites were obtained. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy-dispersive X-ray spectro­scopy (EDS) revealed that variation in the Ti content of the Cu melt significantly affect the composite structure, leading to heterogeneity of the metallic matrix composition and changes in the morphology of TiC particles. Titanium carbide formed as polyhed­ral particles, indicating its non-stoichiometric composition (Ti:C ≈ 1:0.7÷1:0.4) as a result of the interaction between titaniumi dissolved in the melt and previously formed TiC. In addition, the Cu–Ti melt reacted with graphite particles, forming a layer of TiC at the interface. The presence of titanium in copper therefore promotes chemical interaction between the copper melt and the TiC–C skeleton, ensuring good wetting and spontaneous infiltration of the Cu–Ti melt into the SHS-derived TiC–C skeleton. The Cu–Ti matrix exhi­bited a hardness of up to 55.1 HRC, which is attributed to solid-solution strengthening by titanium dissolved in copper.

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