Structural Evaluation of Ti-22.2Si-11.1B Powders Milled with PCA Addition

A large amount of the Ti6Si2B compound can be formed by mechanical alloying and subsequent heat treatment from the elemental Ti-22.2at%Si-11.1at%B powder mixture, but the yield powder after ball milling is reduced due to an excessive agglomeration of ductile particles on the balls and vial surfaces. This work reports on the structural evaluation of Ti-22.2at%Si-11.1at%B powders milled with PCA addition, varying its amount between 1 and 2 wt-%. The milling process was carried out in a planetary ball mill under argon atmosphere, and the milled powders were then heated at 1200oC for 1h under Ar atmosphere in order to obtain equilibrium structures. Samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and thermal analysis. Results revealed that the PCA addition reduced the excessive agglomeration during the ball milling of Ti-22.2at-%Si-11.1at-%B powders. After heating at 1200oC for 1h, the Ti5Si3, Ti3O and/or Ti2C phases were preferentially formed in Ti-22.2at%Si-11.1at%B powders milled with PCA addition, and the Ti6Si2B formation was inhibited.