The effect of Fe2Al5 as reducing agent in intermediate steps of 'Al2O3/TiC-Fe composite production process

Abstract Al 2 O 3 /TiC-Fe cutting tools can be produced in-situ by using ilmenite, aluminum and graphite. The formation mechanism of the system was investigated in some researches. Most of them have diagnosed the aluminum as reducing agent of TiO 2 , but in this study, it is proven that Fe 2 Al 5 acts as the reducing agent for TiO 2 in the intermediate steps of the reactions. To achieve this goal, firstly, the reactions of synthesized ilmenite, aluminum and graphite system were investigated in detail. Then, pure Fe 2 Al 5 was synthesized, and mixed with definite amount of TiO 2 . The sample mixture was heat treated at the same temperature at the real reaction temperature, namely, 930 °C. The final products were analyzed with XRD. It was found that the product heat treatment of F 2 Al 5 and TiO 2 mixture was the same as the sample of ilmenite, aluminum and graphite mixture with a molar ratio of 1:2:1 heat treated at 930 °C.