Reactive hot pressing of Ti–B–C and Ti–C at 1200 °C

Stoichiometric and non-stoichiometric powder mixtures of Ti–B4C and Ti–C with 1 wt% Ni were reactively hot pressed at 40 MPa, 1200 °C for 30 min. In both systems, the combined presence of Ni and non-stoichiometry enabled complete densification. While in Ti–C, non-stoichiometry by itself plays a significant role in promoting densification, the formation of intermediate borides in Ti–B4C powder mixtures requires the additional presence of Ni which promotes full reaction through the formation of a transient liquid as established previously in Ti–BN powder mixtures.