Fabrication and Properties of Ti3SiC2/SiC Composites

Ti3SiC2/SiC composites were fabricated by reactive hot pressing method. Effects of hot pressing temperature, the content and particle size of SiC on phase composition, densification, mechanical properties and behavior of stress-strain of the composites were investigated. The results showed that: (1) Hot-pressing temperature influenced the phase composition of Ti3SiC2/SiC composites. The flexural strength and fracture toughness of composites increased with hot pressing temperature. (2) It became more difficult for the composites to densify when the content of SiC in composites increased. It need be sintered at higher temperature to get denser composite. The flexural strength and fracture toughness of composites increased when the content of SiC added in composites increased. However, when the content of SiC reached 50 wt%, the flexural strength and fracture toughness of composites decreased due to high content of pore in composites. (3) When the content of SiC was same, Ti3SiC2/SiC composites were denser while the particle size of SiC added in composites is 12.8 μm compared with the composites that the particle size of SiC added is 3 μm. The flexural strength and fracture toughness of composites increased with the increase of particle size of SiC added in composites. (4) Ti3SiC2/SiC composites were non-brittle fracture at room temperature.