Synthesis of NiAl-TiC nanocomposite during mechanical alloying of Ni–Ti–Al–C powder mixture

The formation mechanism of NiAl-TiC nanocomposite during mechanical alloying of Ni–Ti–Al-C powder mixture was evaluated. The sequence of reactions during milling was obtained by DTA. Also, x-ray analysis was used for phase development, and morphological and microstructural evaluations were carried out by SEM and TEM electron microscopes. The results showed that after 5 h milling, NiAl and TiC x were formed, and no change in the phase composition was seen by prolongation of milling time to 40 h. The XRD results showed that no reaction took place until 3 h ball milling. DTA analysis of 3 h milled powder showed a broad exothermic peak at temperature range 850 °C–950 °C related to the simultaneous formation of NiAl and TiC. Morphological characterization by TEM confirmed that the final microstructure consisted of NiAl-TiC nanocomposite.