Abstract

Different sizes of Si powder and milling medium materials (steel and partially stabilized zirconia (PSZ)) were used to synthesize Ti_3Si and TiSi_2 by mechanical aollying (MA) of Ti-25.0.at.%Si and Ti-66.7at.% Si powder mixtures. the formation of each titanium silicide did not occur even after 360 min of MA of as-re-ceived Si and Ti powder mixtures due to the lack of homogeneity. Ti_3Si, however, was synthesized after 240 min of MA of Ti and 60 min-premilled Si powder mixture. alpha-TiSi_2 and TiSi_2 were produced by jar milling of Ti and 60 min-premilled Si powder mixture for 48 hr and high -energy PSZ ball-milling in a steel vial for 360 min. The formation of each titanium silicide was characterized by a slow reaction rate as the reactants and product(s) coexisted for a certain period of time. The formation of Ti_3Si and TiSi_2 and the reaction rates appeared to be influenced by the Si particle size, the homogeneity of the powder mixtures and the milling medium materials.