TiC core/(Ti,Mo)C rim structure in TiC--Ni base cermet which is generally prepared by sintering below 145 had been believed to be generated by the solid diffusion of Mo atoms 1 into TiC grains (D. Moskowitz and M.Humenik, 1r.:1966). Afterward, it was clarified that the c core/rim structure is generated by solution/re-precipitation mechanism : (1) grains and s small TiC grains dissolve into the Ni liquid, (2) the dissolved Mo, Ti and C atoms migrate to the s surface of TiC coarse grains, (3) the Mo, Ti and C precipitate on the surface of TiC coarse g grains and form (Ti,Mo)C solid solution rim, and (4) the Ostwald ripening (grain growth by s solution/re-precipitation mechanism) of TiC-core/(Ti,Mo)-rim grains continues, and thus the w width of (Ti,Mo)C rim (at the same time, the grain size) increases with sintering time, etc. ( (H.Suzuki, K.Hayashi and O.Terada: 1973). The TiC-core was found not to disappear even by s sintering at 190 (ibid.: 1974) Recently, FeSi core/-rim structure in Fe-66.7at%Si thermoelectric aIloy was found to also h hardly shrink and disappear by long heating at an appropriate temperature (1999: M.Tajima and K K.hayashD. Then, the authors considered its cause, and clarified experimentaIly that the disappearance of FeSi-core/-rim structure could be attributed to the exhaustion of diffusion-contributable vacancies in core/rim structure (N.Taniguchi and K.Hayashi:2001). At p present, the authors and my coworker are investigating whether the non-disappearance of TiC c core can be explained also from the new hypothesis "Exhaustion of diffusion-contributable v vacancies in corelrim structure".ure".uot;.

• Hayshi Koji
• Yanaba Yutaka