Al3Ti/Al composites prepared by SHS

An advanced method of producing Al3Ti/Al composites, self-propagating high-temperature synthesis (SHS) in an Al melt, is described. The mole ratio of Al/Ti in the starting powder mixture is an important parameter for that controls the microstructure of the Al3Ti compound produced by SHS. When Al/Ti is much smaller than 3/1 (the stoichiometric ratio), large needle-like Al3Ti structures will be produced. When Al/Ti is close to or larger than this value, the more favorable homogeneously distributed blocky Al3Ti will be obtained. But if Al/Ti ratio is larger than 3.75/1, the SHS process will stop because more heat is consumed for heating up and melting the Al powder.