Abstract

The objective of the present study is to investigate the increase in the functional characteristics of a substrate by the formation of a thin coating layer. Thin coating layers of Ti_5Si_3 have high potential because Ti_5Si_3 exhibits high hardness. Shock induced reaction synthesis is an attractive fabrication technique to synthesize uniform coating layer by controlling the shock wave. Ti and Si powders to form Ti_5Si_3 using shock induced reaction synthesis, were mixed using high-energy ball mill into small scale. The positive effect of this technique is highly functional coating layer on the substrate due to ultra fine substructure, which improves the bonding strength. These materials are in great demand as heat resisting, structural and corrosion resistant materials. Thin Ti_5Si_3 coating layer was successfully recovered and showed high Vickers' hardness (Hv=1183). Characterization studies on microstructure revealed a fairly uniform distribution of powders with good interfacial integrity between the powders and the substrate.

• Keywords: Underwater shock compression;Compaction and reaction synthesisTi_5Si_3;