An analytical electron microscopy study of the high temperature carbide formed in a V-5 Ti-C alloy

A finely dispersed high temperature carbide that precipitates at 1000°C in a V-5 pct Ti-C alloy has been studied using analytical electron microscopy. The crystal structure has been determined using electron diffraction as B1 (NaCl-type) with a lattice parameter of 4.29Å. The carbide develops a habit plane parallel to {001} of the matrix. The orientation relationship between the carbide and the matrix is [010] carbide ¦ | [ $$ begin{gathered} [010] carbide || [0bar 10] matrix hfill (001) carbide ||(101) matrix. hfill end{gathered} $$ The elemental concentrations of the metal constituents of the carbide have been deduced using energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy and electron energy loss spectroscopy, through examination of core electron excitations. The composition of the carbide is found to be V₁₁Ti₃gC₅₀, assuming a stoichiometric carbide.