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It is widely known that the special performances and extensive applications of the nanoscale materials are determined by their as-synthesized structures, especially their growth sizes and morphologies. Hereinto, titanium carbides, which show brilliant comprehensive properties, have attracted considerable attention from researchers. How to give full play to their potentials in the light-weight manufacture, microwave absorption, electromagnetic protection, energy conversion and catalyst areas has been widely studied. In this summarized article, the synthesis methods and mechanisms, corresponding growth morphologies of titanium carbides and their further applications were briefly reviewed and analyzed according to their different morphological dimensions, including one-dimensional nanostructures, two-dimensional nanosheets and three-dimensional nanoparticles. It is believed that through the investigation of the crystal structures, synthesis methods, growth mechanisms, and morphology characterizations of those titanium carbides, new lights could be shed on the regulation and control of the ceramic phase specific morphologies to meet with their excellent properties and applications. In addition, the corresponding development prospects and challenges of titanium carbides with various growth morphologies were also summarized.

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In situ micro-TiB2/Cu cermets with a different TiB2 content (40, 50, and 60 vol %) were successfully fabricated by combustion synthesis (CS) and hot press consolidation in Cu-Ti-B systems. In addition, different contents of Cr and Zr were added to the Cu-Ti-B systems. The microstructure, mechanical properties, and abrasive wear properties of the TiB2/Cu cermets were investigated. As the ceramic content increased, the yield strength and compressive strength of the cermets were found to increase, while the strain decreased. An increase in load and abrasive particle size caused the wear volume loss of the TiB2/Cu cermets to increase. When the ceramic content was 60 vol %, the wear resistance of the TiB2/Cu cermets was 3.3 times higher than that of pure copper. The addition of the alloying elements Zr and Cr had a significant effect on the mechanical properties of the cermets. When the Cr content was 5 wt %, the yield strength, ultimate compressive strength, and microhardness of the cermets reached a maximum of 997 MPa, 1183 MPa, and 491 Hv, respectively. Correspondingly, when the Zr content was 5 wt %, those three values reached 1764 MPa, 1967 MPa, and 655 Hv, respectively, which are 871 MPa, 919 MPa, and 223 Hv higher than those of the unalloyed cermets. The wear mechanism of the in-situ TiB2/Cu cermets, and the mechanisms by which the strength and wear resistance were enhanced by the addition of Zr, were preliminarily revealed.

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Bimodal hybrid in-situ nano-/micro-size TiC/Al composites were prepared with combustion synthesis of Al-Ti-C system and hot press consolidation. Attempt was made to obtain in-situ bimodal-size TiC particle reinforced dense Al matrix composites by using different carbon sources in the reaction process of hot pressing forming. Microstructure showed that the obtained composites exhibited reasonable bimodal-sized TiC distribution in the matrix and low porosity. With the increasing of the carbon nano tube (CNT) content from 0 to 100 wt. %, the average size of the TiC particles decreases and the compressive strength of the composite increase; while the fracture strain increases first and then decreases. The compressive properties of the bimodal-sized TiC/Al composites, especially the bimodal-sized composite synthesized by Al-Ti-C with 50 wt. % CNTs as carbon source, were improved compared with the composites reinforced with single sized TiC. The strengthening mechanism of the in-situ bimodal-sized particle reinforced aluminum matrix composites was revealed.