SYNTHESIS AND HIGH-TEMPERATURE MECHANICAL-PROPERTIES OF TI3SIC2 SIC COMPOSITE/

A high density Ti3SiC2/20 vol% SiC composite was hot pressed under a u niaxial pressure of 45 MPa for 30 min in an Ar atmosphere at 1600 degr ees C. The grain size of the Ti3SiC2/SiC composite was finer than that of monolithic Ti3SiC2, though the composite was hot pressed at a high er temperature, due to the dispersion of SiC particles in the Ti3SiC2 matrix. Room temperature fracture toughness of the composite and Vicke rs hardness were measured as 5.4 MPa m(1/2) and 1080 kg mm(-2), respec tively. A higher flexure strength of the composite compared to that of monolithic Ti3SiC2 was measured both at room temperature and up to 12 00 degrees C. At 1000 degrees C, the composite showed a lower oxidatio n rate than that of monolithic Ti3SiC2.