Fabrication and properties of SiC/Ti₃SiC₂ composites by reactive hot pressing sintering

SiC/Ti₃SiC₂ composites were prepared by reactive hot pressing method. The effects of hot pressing temperature, the content and particle size of SiC on the phase constituent, mechanical properties and the behavior of stress-strain of the composites were investigated. The results show that the hot pressing temperature influences the phase constituent of SiC/Ti₃SiC₂ composites. The flexural strength and fracture toughness of composites increase with the increase of hot pressing temperature. With the increasing the SiC content, the flexural strength and fracture toughness of composites increase. When the mass fraction of SiC is 30%, the flexural strength and fracture toughness of SiC/Ti₃SiC₂ composite are 371 MPa and 6.9 MPa·m^1/2 , respectively. However, when the mass fraction of SiC content reaches 50%, the flexural strength and fracture toughness of composites decrease due to high porosity in the composites. The flexural strength and fracture toughness of composites increase with the particle size of SiC. SiC/Ti₃SiC₂ composites are non-brittle at room temperature.