Mechanical performance of sub-stoichiometric titanium carbide ceramics synthesized by a hybrid SHS and SPS methodology

Sub-stoichiometric titanium carbide ceramics were synthesized via a hybrid route combining self-propagating high-temperature synthesis (SHS) and spark plasma sintering (SPS). TiC₁₋ₓ powders were produced through a single, rapid SHS step by the direct reaction of titanium and graphite, followed by at...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: Moshtaghioun, Bibi Malmal, Cano-Crespo, Rafael, Cumbrera, Francisco Luis, Gómez-García, Diego, García Fernández, María, Rodríguez, Miguel A., Moreno, Rodrigo
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Estado:Versión publicada
Fecha de publicación:2026
País:España
Institución:Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC)
Repositorio:DIGITAL.CSIC. Repositorio Institucional del CSIC
OAI Identifier:oai:digital.csic.es:10261/415741
Acceso en línea:http://hdl.handle.net/10261/415741
https://api.elsevier.com/content/abstract/scopus_id/105013969082
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:Titanium carbide
SHS
SPS
Dislocation creep mechanism
Descripción
Sumario:Sub-stoichiometric titanium carbide ceramics were synthesized via a hybrid route combining self-propagating high-temperature synthesis (SHS) and spark plasma sintering (SPS). TiC₁₋ₓ powders were produced through a single, rapid SHS step by the direct reaction of titanium and graphite, followed by attrition milling to achieve an average particle size of 3–5 μm. Particular attention was devoted to analyzing sub-stoichiometry variations associated with carbon vacancy formation during both SHS and SPS processes. SPS treatments at temperatures up to 1800 °C promoted sub-stoichiometric deviations reaching compositions as low as TiC<inf>0.74</inf>, which remained nearly stable even under more extreme SPS conditions. Additionally, a minor and unexpected precipitation of a disordered graphite phase was detected. The resulting sub-stoichiometric titanium carbide ceramics exhibited high Vickers hardness values, reaching up to 27 GPa. Microstructural analysis revealed plastic deformation, attributed to dislocation interactions with graphite precipitates. The dislocation dynamics were found to be governed by cationic diffusion mechanisms.