Distinctive Features of the Grain Size Reduction Process in a TiC–NiCr Material Produced by SHS Extrusion

Distinctive features of the formation of the structure of a titanium carbide-based alloy with a nichrome binder under self-propagating high-temperature synthesis (SHS) conditions have been studied theoretically and experimentally. We have observed qualitative changes in the structure of the material due to differences in SHS process: without pressure, pressing, and extrusion. Unlike in the case of pressureless SHS, SHS extrusion involves mechanical mixing of the material, which ensures better uniformity of the structure formation process. Based on proposed models for thermal conditions of SHS extrusion and experimental data, we have examined the influence of heat removal conditions and strain on the grain size of TiC along and across extruded rods. Analysis of the results we obtained has shown that the maximum discrepancy between theoretical calculations and experimental data is within 10% and that, in the case of the minimum size of TiC grains, the discrepancy does not exceed 1–5%, which confirms good agreement between the proposed model and experimental data.