Effect of high-energy ball milling on synthetic reaction in Al-TiO2-C system

High-energy ball milling has a great influence on the temperature characters of synthetic reaction in Al-TiO2-C system by changing the size, distribution state and wet ability of reactants. Reaction temperature characters (reaction ignition time, ignition temperature time, the maximum temperature and temperature rising rate) were changed by different milling time. The longer the milling time, the earlier the reaction, the quicker the temperature rise and the higher the maximum temperature. When the milling time exceeded 10 hours, the reactivity of reactants was so high that the synthetic reaction could take place at 850°C directly without a long time pretreatment at 670°C. The microstructure of synthetic composites became uniform and the reinforced panicles (TiC and α-Al2O3) became fine with milling time increasing.