METHOD OF MODIFYING THE SURFACE OF A SUBSTRATE

摘要

To improve the surface properties of a substrate selected from the group consisting of the metals titanium, zirconium and hafnium and alloys based on any of these metals, a solid material such as silicon carbide is dissolved in a molten layer at the surface of the substrate, and the molten layer is allowed to cool rapidly. The silicon dissolves in the liquid titanium to produce a substitutional solid solution which may then at least partially precipitate out upon cooling, whilst the carbon initially dissolves to produce an interstitial solid solution but on cooling may at least partially precipitate out to form a fine distribution of titanium carbide.