Preparation of ultrafine TiC–Ni cermet powders by mechanical alloying

Pure titanium, nickel and carbon powders were mechanically alloyed to synthesize the TiC–Ni cermet powders with ultrafine microstructures. As a result of milling, formation of the ultrafine TiC or amorphous Ti–Ni phase were obtained, depending on milling conditions. The effect of milling variables on the synthesizing behaviour of the powders was investigated. The sintered TiC–Ni cermet from the mechanically alloyed powders contained TiC particles of 0.2–1.5 μm in size as compared with those of 3–5 μm for a commercial cermet. The spex-milling technique of the mechanical alloying process turned out to be more effective in the formation of the final cermet microstructure than the ball-milling one.