The effect of carbon sources, i.e. graphite and amorphous carbon, on the reaction mechanism, product morphology, and the rate of combustion reaction between Ti and C to form TiC were studied. A reaction mechanism was proposed for each carbon source from the activation energy of combustion reaction. The microstructure and the composition of reaction products were also investigated. It was observed that graphite fissured in a layered form during the combustion reaction and the reaction between graphite and liquid titanium was accomplished mainly on the surface of the thinly fissured layer. Graphite was found to be more reactive with titanium and titanium carbide synthesized with graphite contains less amount of unreacted carbon and is more close to the stoichiometric TiC.