Effect of reactant C/Ti ratio on the stoichiometry, morphology of TiCx and mechanical properties of TiCx–Ni composite

TiCx with different morphologies were synthesized from combustion synthesis of Ni–Ti–C system by changing the reactant C/Ti ratio. High stoichiometry of TiCx changed the growth direction from (111) to (100) surface and therefore resulted in cubic morphology while high combustion temperature at high reactant C/Ti ratio led to the roughening transition of (100) surface and form spherical morphology.