Observation of intermetallic Ni3Ti whiskers during combustion synthesis reactions in the Ni-Ti-C system

Initial studies of self-propagating reactions in the Ni-Ti-C system have revealed the formation of NiTi intermetallic whiskers via the VLS mechanism, in addition to the expected product of TiC in a nickel matrix. The whiskers were situated within the pores of the product and grew preferentially along the (110) and (220) planes. Further results of these observations are currently being processed and further characterisation studies are also being carried out