The invention provides Al.sub.2O.sub.3 dispersion-strengthened Ti.sub.2AlN
composites, wherein Ti.sub.2AlN matrix and Al.sub.2O.sub.3 strengthening
phase both are reactively formed in situ. The volume fraction of
Al.sub.2O.sub.3 is 5% to 50%; the particle size of Al.sub.2O.sub.3 ranges
from 500 nm to 2 .mu.m, with the mean size of Al.sub.2O.sub.3 particles
about 0.8 .mu.m to 1.2 .mu.m; the shape of Ti.sub.2AlN grain is
plate-like about 80 nm to 120 nm thick and 0.5 .mu.m to 2 .mu.m long. The
composites exhibit excellent deformability at high temperature under
compression and flexure stresses, and possess excellent oxidation
resistance at 1100.degree. C. to 1350.degree. C. for long time (100 h).
The composites show typical metallic conductor behavior and the
electrical resistivity at room temperature is 0.3 to 0.8 .mu..OMEGA.m.
The invention also provides a method for preparing the same: First,
nanoparticles in Ti--Al binary system were prepared in continuous way by
hydrogen plasma-metal reaction (HPMR) using Ti--Al alloy rods with Al
content 20% to 60% by atom, or pure Al rods and pure Ti rods. The
atmosphere used in HPMR is the mixture atmosphere of nitrogen-containing
gas, H.sub.2 and Ar, with total pressure of 0.8 to 1.2 atm, wherein
volume ratio of H.sub.2 and Ar is 1:0.8-1.2, and volume fraction of
nitrogen-containing gas is 0 to about 20%. Second, the nanoparticles were
compacted by vacuum hot pressing at temperature of 800.degree. C. to
1200.degree. C., pressure of 40 MPa to 60 MPa, time of 4 h to 6 h, and
vacuum of 2.times.10.sup.-2 Pa to 5.times.10.sup.-3 Pa.