Abstract: A titanium alloy composite material including dispersed carbon fibers coated with a layer containing an element which forms a carbide in reaction with carbon, and the carbide formed thereby, in crystal grains of the titanium alloy. The element which forms a carbide in reaction with carbon is preferably at least one of silicon (Si), chromium (Cr), titanium (Ti), vanadium (V), tantalum (Ta), molybdenum (Mo), zirconium (Zr), boron (B), and calcium (Ca). The carbon fibers are preferably carbon nanotubes, vapor-grown carbon fibers, or a mixture thereof. The titanium alloy composite material has excellent mechanical strength, such as tensile strength, Young's modulus, toughness, and hardness.

Abstract: A method of producing a titanium alloy composite material comprises mixing carbon fibers and a powder of an element which forms a carbide in reaction with carbon, subliming the element under high temperature vacuum, and coating the carbon fibers with a layer containing the element and the carbide to produce coated carbon fibers. The method further comprises mixing the coated carbon fibers and titanium alloy powder to form a mixture, and applying a mechanical impact force to the mixture to fix the carbon fibers on the surface of the titanium alloy powder to obtain a carbon fiber-fixed titanium alloy powder. The method further comprises sintering the carbon fiber-fixed titanium alloy powder to form a sintered body and plastic working the sintered body to disperse the carbon fibers in crystal grains of the titanium alloy.

Abstract: A titanium alloy composite material including dispersed carbon fibers coated with a layer containing an element which forms a carbide in reaction with carbon, and the carbide formed thereby, in crystal grains of the titanium alloy. The element which forms a carbide in reaction with carbon is preferably at least one of silicon (Si), chromium (Cr), titanium (Ti), vanadium (V), tantalum (Ta), molybdenum (Mo), zirconium (Zr), boron (B), and calcium (Ca). The carbon fibers are preferably carbon nanotubes, vapor-grown carbon fibers, or a mixture thereof. The titanium alloy composite material has excellent mechanical strength, such as tensile strength, Young's modulus, toughness, and hardness.