Interfacial reactions between titanium and boron nitride nanotubes

Titanium-coated boron nitride nanotubes prepared by sputtering method have been heated under different conditions to investigate reaction phases at their interface. It is found that TiB2 nanocrystals firstly nucleate on the surface of nanotubes at 800 degrees C for 30 min. By the time 1 h, these nucleated TiB2 crystals grow larger by consuming inner walls of nanotubes and tend to transform into TiB phase. With an exposure to higher temperatures and longer periods, needle-like TiB whiskers and plate-like TiB2 remain in the composite. (C) 2016 Acta Materialia Inc. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.