Journal of Materials Science, Vol.30, No.12, 3087-3090, 1995
Synthesis and High-Temperature Mechanical-Properties of Ti3Sic2/SiC Composite
A high density Ti3SiC2/20 vol% SiC composite was hot pressed under a uniaxial pressure of 45 MPa for 30 min in an Ar atmosphere at 1600 degrees C. The grain size of the Ti3SiC2/SiC composite was finer than that of monolithic Ti3SiC2, though the composite was hot pressed at a higher temperature, due to the dispersion of SiC particles in the Ti3SiC2 matrix. Room temperature fracture toughness of the composite and Vickers hardness were measured as 5.4 MPa m(1/2) and 1080 kg mm(-2), respectively. A higher flexure strength of the composite compared to that of monolithic Ti3SiC2 was measured both at room temperature and up to 1200 degrees C. At 1000 degrees C, the composite showed a lower oxidation rate than that of monolithic Ti3SiC2.