The densification behavior and mechanical properties of SiC-30TiC (in
volume percent) composites prepared with Cr3C2 additive were investiga
ted, By hot-pressing a SiC-30TiC-1Cr(3)C(2) specimen at 1950 degrees C
, 98.5% of theoretical density was achieved and the specimen exhibited
a fracture strength of 750 MPa. For the SiC-30TiC-10Cr(3)C(2) specime
n, beta-alpha transformation of SiC was observed to occur during hot-p
ressing and in situ growth of elongated alpha-SiC grains resulted in a
n increase of fracture toughness, Microstructural observations using h
igh-resolution TEM indicated that no liquid phase was present at the i
nterfaces.