Fabrication of dense nanocrystalline TiC by spark plasma sintering was studied. TiC nano-particles 34 nm in size were densified by spark plasma sintering at 100 MPa for 5 min between 1100 degrees C and 1700 degrees C. The density linearly increased between 1100 degrees C and 1500 degrees C from 72% to 97%. Density of 98% was reached at 1700 degrees C compared to 76% for the micrometer size reference powder. The main densification occurred during the heating and resulted in nanocrystalline to submicrometer size grains. Lattice parameter decreased and Ti/C ratio increased with the temperature from stoichiometric TiC (1.17) towards that of Ti(2)C (1.77). A unique layered microstructure in regions a few tens to hundreds of micrometer in size, composed of TiC/Ti(2)C, resembled the flow pattern characteristic of cooperative particle sliding in granular materials. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.