Formation of metal–TiN/TiC nanocomposite powders by mechanical alloying and their consolidation

Fe–TiN, Ni–TiN, and SUS316–TiC nanocomposite powders were prepared by ball-milling Fe–Ti, Ni–Ti, and SUS316–TiC powder mixtures in a nitrogen or argon gas atmosphere. Fe–63vol.% TiN and Ni–44–64vol.% TiN milled powders were dynamically compacted by use of a propellant gun to produce bulk materials of nanocrystalline structure and having grain sizes between about 5 and 400 nm. SUS316–2.8–5.6vol.% TiC milled powders were consolidated by hot isostatic pressing (HIP) to produce bulk materials having grain sizes between about 100 and 400 nm. The possibility of using fine-dispersed TiN/TiC particles to pin grain boundaries and thereby maintain ultra-fine grained structures of grain sizes down to the nanocrystalline scale has been discussed.