Application of Titanium Carbide Powders Treated in RF Induction Plasma to Al<SUB>2</SUB>O<SUB>3</SUB>-TiC Composite Ceramics

In order to investigate the influence of plasma treatment on the powder properties, titanium carbide powder with an average particle size of 1.35 μm was modified by the in-flight induction plasma treatment generated at the plate power of 45 kW and reactor pressure of 26.7 kPa. The treatment in Ar-H2 induced the formation of carbon-site vacancies. The tail injection of Ar-NH3 to the Ar-H2 plasma resulted in the partial substitution of carbon by nitrogen. Also, the treatment in Ar-N2 plasma gave rise to the partial nitridation. A large amount of oxygen incorporated into the plasma-treated powders stored in air. The original and plasma-treated powders were dispersed in an alumina matrix, and the pressureless sintering of Al2O3-TiC composites was tried to elucidate the influence of plasma modification. The composites with the dispersion of plasma-treated titanium carbide powders showed an increase in sintered density.