Solidification Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of B1-type TiC in Fe-Ti-C Ternary Alloys

Abstract

The microstructure of the B1-type TiC formed during solidification and its mechanical properties were investigated using arc-melted Fe-Ti-C ternary alloys. The TiC formed at relatively high temperatures in the liquid as the primary phase exhibited a dendritic shape. With decreasing temperature and/or decreasing Ti and C content in the liquid, its morphology changed to a cubic shape with the {001}TiC habit plane, a plate shape with the {011}TiC habit plane, and a needle shape with the <001>TiC preferential growth direction. The morphology of the TiC was characterized by the anisotropy of its surface energy and its growth rate. The cubic shape with the {001}TiC habit plane was formed as a result of the minimum surface energy of the {001}TiC. However, the plate shape with the {011}TiC habit plane and the needle shape with the <001>TiC preferential growth direction should be formed due to the slowest growth rate of <011>TiC and the fastest growth rate of <001>TiC, respectively. At room temperature, alloy with the dendritic TiC was fractured in the elastic deformation region because the TiC exhibited no plastic deformation. On the other hand, at 800ºC, it was suggested that the TiC has plastic deformability and alloy with the dendritic TiC was also plastically deformed.