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G. Walunj et al.
applications. However, as a wide variety of applications was realized, the research
gained the backing of the commercial sector as well [1]. Metal matrix composite
(MMC) is a type of alloy which gained popularity through government-funded
programs interested in MMCs have a broad range of uses primarily in the aerospace
industry but are also useful for numerous other structural, electrical, and thermal
applications. There are two branches of the metal matrix component, such as continuous reinforcement and discontinuous reinforcement [2]. Discontinuous reinforcement is better than continuous reinforcement because it has small particles, fiber
pieces included while reinforcement, whereas continuous reinforcement having a
continuous sheet of fiber or metal composite reinforcement [2].
Iron (Fe) and aluminum (Al) MMC has been explored a lot by the researcher as
compared to nickel (Ni) as the base composites. Nickel is a softer material by its
characteristics, but it shows outstanding bonds with hard material composite and
ceramics reinforcement. Therefore, composites of Ni with carbides and ceramics
can be used in high strength applications where Ni can be used as base material [3,
4]. Titanium carbide (TiC) has been extensively used MMCs to increase hardness
and wear resistance [5]. The hardness of titanium carbide lies between 2800 and
3200 HV [6], and higher hardness materials are more brittle, tending to brake in higher
thermal and mechanical stress. Taking advantage of hardness properties from TiC and
reinforced into the Ni matrix enables to add more strength to the Ni-TiC composite.
The alloy of nickel–titanium carbide (Ni-TiC) has widespread applications, mainly
where higher strength at high temperatures required, such as structural applications
in industries such as aerospace, automotive, and defense.
Mechanical allowing is a process where metal powders are cold-welded and
repeatedly fracture to create homogenous bonding on an atomic level [7]. Excessive cold welding can be prevented using the process control agents while mechanical alloying [1, 8, 9]. Mechanical alloying (MA) has advantages over conventional
alloying where different melting point materials have also been alloyed; therefore,
MA has been used to produce jet engine parts [7]. The spark plasma sintering process
has been used in consolidating mechanically alloyed powder using conductive die
and punches and high voltage current pass through the powder to generate anticipated
temperature [10]. The SPS usage resistance pulse heating or joule heating technique
achieves the desired heating temperature; therefore, the SPS process is suitable to
sinter sample with lower temperature [9–12].
The current research is focused on producing the Ni-TiC alloy through a
process beginning by mechanically alloying of Ni and TiC and consolidates using
spark plasma sintering (SPS) for further mechanical testing. There has been a
massive impact of the processing parameter and material composition on the Ni-TiC
composite matrix that has been investigated through analysis and provides production parameters and creating a guide for the development of Ni-TiC composite.
On the other hand, by exploring the effects of the TiC in the Ni-TiC matrix, it is
possible to determine the range of capabilities of the alloy and expanding the scope
of applications.
G. Walunj et al.
applications. However, as a wide variety of applications was realized, the research
gained the backing of the commercial sector as well [1]. Metal matrix composite
(MMC) is a type of alloy which gained popularity through government-funded
programs interested in MMCs have a broad range of uses primarily in the aerospace
industry but are also useful for numerous other structural, electrical, and thermal
applications. There are two branches of the metal matrix component, such as continuous reinforcement and discontinuous reinforcement [2]. Discontinuous reinforcement is better than continuous reinforcement because it has small particles, fiber
pieces included while reinforcement, whereas continuous reinforcement having a
continuous sheet of fiber or metal composite reinforcement [2].
Iron (Fe) and aluminum (Al) MMC has been explored a lot by the researcher as
compared to nickel (Ni) as the base composites. Nickel is a softer material by its
characteristics, but it shows outstanding bonds with hard material composite and
ceramics reinforcement. Therefore, composites of Ni with carbides and ceramics
can be used in high strength applications where Ni can be used as base material [3,
4]. Titanium carbide (TiC) has been extensively used MMCs to increase hardness
and wear resistance [5]. The hardness of titanium carbide lies between 2800 and
3200 HV [6], and higher hardness materials are more brittle, tending to brake in higher
thermal and mechanical stress. Taking advantage of hardness properties from TiC and
reinforced into the Ni matrix enables to add more strength to the Ni-TiC composite.
The alloy of nickel–titanium carbide (Ni-TiC) has widespread applications, mainly
where higher strength at high temperatures required, such as structural applications
in industries such as aerospace, automotive, and defense.
Mechanical allowing is a process where metal powders are cold-welded and
repeatedly fracture to create homogenous bonding on an atomic level [7]. Excessive cold welding can be prevented using the process control agents while mechanical alloying [1, 8, 9]. Mechanical alloying (MA) has advantages over conventional
alloying where different melting point materials have also been alloyed; therefore,
MA has been used to produce jet engine parts [7]. The spark plasma sintering process
has been used in consolidating mechanically alloyed powder using conductive die
and punches and high voltage current pass through the powder to generate anticipated
temperature [10]. The SPS usage resistance pulse heating or joule heating technique
achieves the desired heating temperature; therefore, the SPS process is suitable to
sinter sample with lower temperature [9–12].
The current research is focused on producing the Ni-TiC alloy through a
process beginning by mechanically alloying of Ni and TiC and consolidates using
spark plasma sintering (SPS) for further mechanical testing. There has been a
massive impact of the processing parameter and material composition on the Ni-TiC
composite matrix that has been investigated through analysis and provides production parameters and creating a guide for the development of Ni-TiC composite.
On the other hand, by exploring the effects of the TiC in the Ni-TiC matrix, it is
possible to determine the range of capabilities of the alloy and expanding the scope
of applications.