Effect of nonstoichiometric TiN0.3 on diffusion behavior in TaC–TiN0.3 system

Abstract The diffusion behavior and solid solution formation in the binary system TaC–TiN 0.3 were investigated. TaC, TiN, and TiN 0.3 were used as raw materials; TiN 0.3 was synthesized through mechanical alloying. Two groups of the prepared samples were spark plasma sintered at 1300–1700 °C for 10 min. TaC–TiN 0.3 and TaC–TiN diffusion couples were used for the study of diffusion behavior with an energy dispersive spectrometer. Solid solution formation in the TaC–TiN 0.3 system with varying compositions and heat treatment temperatures was characterized by X-ray diffraction. Ta, Ti, C, and N atoms show faster diffusion and higher dissolution rate in the TaC–TiN 0.3 system than in the TaC–TiN system because of the vacancy effect.