Mechanical and Chemical Characterization of a TiC/C System Synthesized Using a Focus Plasma Arc

Reza Mahmoodian; M Hamdi; M A Hassan; Abolghasem Akbari

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0130836

Mechanical and Chemical Characterization of a TiC/C System Synthesized Using a Focus Plasma Arc

PLoS One. 2015 Jun 25;10(6):e0130836. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0130836. eCollection 2015.

Authors

Reza Mahmoodian¹, M Hamdi², M A Hassan³, Abolghasem Akbari⁴

Affiliations

¹ Centre of Advanced Manufacturing and Materials Processing (AMMP), Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Malaya, 50603, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; Department of Research and Development, Azarin Kar Ind. Co., Industrial Zone 1, 7635168361, Kerman, Iran.
² Centre of Advanced Manufacturing and Materials Processing (AMMP), Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Malaya, 50603, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
³ Centre of Advanced Manufacturing and Materials Processing (AMMP), Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Malaya, 50603, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; Department of Mechanical Engineering, Assiut University, Assiut, 71516, Egypt.
⁴ Faculty of Civil Engineering & Earth Resources, Universiti Malaysia Pahang, Pahang, Malaysia.

Abstract

Titanium carbide-graphite (TiC/C) composite was successfully synthesized from Ti and C starting elemental powders using self-propagating high-temperature synthesis technique in an ultra-high plasma inert medium in a single stage. The TiC was exposed to a high-temperature inert medium to allow recrystallization. The product was then characterized using field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) coupled with energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Rietveld refinement, nanoindentation, and micro-hardness to determine the product's properties. The recorded micro-hardness of the product was 3660 HV, which is a 14% enhancement and makes is comparable to TiC materials.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Alloys / chemistry*
Graphite / chemistry*
Materials Testing
Microscopy, Electron, Scanning
Surface Properties
Titanium / chemistry*

Substances

Alloys
titanium carbide
Graphite
Titanium

Grants and funding

The authors would like to acknowledge the University of Malaya for providing the necessary facilities and resources for this research. This research was fully funded by the Ministry of Higher Education, Malaysia with the high impact research (HIR) grant number of HIR-MOHE-16001-00-D000001, BKP grant (BK064-2014), UMRG (PR021B-13AET). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript. Author R. Mahmoodian was employed by Azarin Kar Ind. Co.. Author RM has not received any payment support from Azarin Kar Ind. Co. for this paper. The Azarin Kar Ind. Co. support was in form given space and using its equipment as courtesy. Azarin Kar Ind. Co. did not have any additional role in the study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript. The specific role of this author is articulated in the ‘author contributions’ section.