EFFECT OF Si ON THE THERMAL STABILITY OF TiC IN MOLTEN ALUMINIUM

Abstract

In order to assess the effect of Si on the thermal stability of TiC in molten Al, TiC particles were incorporated into Al melts of high purity and Al-7wt.%Si. The composites were heat treated between 500°C and 1000°C and held at temperature for 48 and 6 h for the pure Al matrix and the Al-7wt.%Si alloy, respectively. The samples were characterised by scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction and image analysis. The findings revealed that TiC slowly reacts in solid state, but the reactivity increases in liquid state with temperature to a maximum at 725°C and 800°C for pure Al and the Al-7wt.%Si alloy, respectively. The degradation of TiC particles in the Al melts resulted in the precipitation and growth of intermetallics into blocky shapes and little blocks of Al4C3. The latter phase was seen to coat the remaining TiC particles in heavily reacted samples. At temperatures larger than 725°C, the reaction between TiC and Al to form TiAl3 and Al4C3 decreased and between 800°C and 1000°C, dissolution of TiC in Al produces Al4C3 in decreasing levels as the temperature increases. In the Al-7wt.%Si alloy, this tendency was observed at temperatures larger than 800°C. Energy dispersive X- ray analysis of the intermetallics formed in the Al-7wt.%Si alloy and X-ray patterns of the heat treated samples indicated an average composition of TiAl2.39Si0.39 with the crystalline structure of the TiAl3 phase. Comparison of the remaining TiC fractions in the Al melts reveal that Si enhances the kinetics of the dissolution of TiC and that the mechanism is different at “low” and “high” temperatures.