Fe-TiC composite was fabricated from Fe and TiC powders by high-energy milling and subsequent spark- plasma sintering. The microstructure, particle size and phase of Fe-TiC composite powders were investigated by field emission scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction to evaluate the effect of milling conditions on the size and distribution of TiC particles in Fe matrix. TiC particle size decreased with milling time. The average TiC particle size of 38 nm was obtained after 60 minutes of milling at 1000 rpm. Prepared Fe-TiC powder mixture was densified by spark- plasma sintering. Sintered Fe-TiC compacts showed a relative density of 91.7~96.2%. The average TiC particle size of 150 nm was observed from the FE-SEM image. The microstructure, densification behavior, Vickers hardness, and frac- ture toughness of Fe-TiC sintered compact were investigated.

TiB2-reinforced iron matrix composite (Fe-TiB2) powder was in-situ fabricated from titanium hydride (TiH2) and iron boride (FeB) powders by the mechanical activation and a subsequent reaction. Phase formation of the composite powder was identified by X-ray diffraction (XRD). The morphology and phase composition were observed and measured by field emission-scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), respectively. The results showed that TiB2 particles formed in nanoscale were uniformly distributed in Fe matrix. Fe2B phase existed due to an incomplete reaction of Ti and FeB. Effect of milling process and synthesis temperature on the formation of composite were discussed.