TEM characterization of symbiosis structure of in situ TiC and TiB prepared by reactive processing of Ti-B₄C

Titanium matrix composite reinforced by in situ TiB whisker and TiC particle was prepared by reactive hot-pressing of the blended powder of Ti and B₄C. The microstructure of the composite was studied by SEM and TEM. The symbiosis structure of TiC particle and TiB whisker was found apparently. The results showed that the position of TiC particle to TiB whisker was relatively fixed, and TiCp was more likely to grow up on the (101)_TiB and (101(_))_TiB planes but seldom on the (100)_TiB plane. The fabrication method of the composite, reaction mechanism of Ti and B₄C, and the surface microstructure of TiB whisker were taken into consideration to explain the phenomenon.