Synthesis and Characterization of TiC Powders by Carbothermal Reduction Method in Vacuum

TiC powders have been prepared with titanium dioxide and charcoal powders as raw materials by vacuum carbothermal reduction technique. Meanwhile the as-prepared TiC powders were characterized by acid corrosion resistance test and oxidizability test. The results show as follows: the acid corrosion resistance of titanium carbide powders prepared at the optimum experiment conditions is better than that of industrial powders. It hardly dissolves in HCl, H2SO4, HNO3, HF, HClO4and aqua regia, and slightly dissolves in mixed solution HF+HNO3. The TiC powders are gradually oxidized at 352°C~917°C at air atmosphere and the product may be titanium dioxide and titanium oxides with lower valence. When the temperature rises to 546°C, a large quantity of titanium carbide powders are oxidized. And when the temperature rises to 688°C, besides the titanium carbide powders are oxidized to release heat, the free carbon is also oxidized and transformed into CO2gas to escape.