Mw. Barsoum et B. Houng, TRANSIENT PLASTIC PHASE PROCESSING OF TITANIUM BORON CARBON COMPOSITES, Journal of the American Ceramic Society, 76(6), 1993, pp. 1445-1451
Ceramic/ceramic composites in the Ti-B-C system were fabricated by a n
ovel process referred to as transient plastic phase processing (TPPP).
The basic concept is based on the following reaction: ''soft'' transi
ent plastic matrix + reactant phase --> hard matrix + reinforcement ph
ase where the transient plastic phase is a phase with a wide range of
stoichiometry and a yield point that is a strong function of that stoi
chiometry. The reactant phase is one that will react with the transien
t phase in such a way so as to shift the composition of the latter tow
ard its harder and more refractory composition. The composite is forme
d in two stages: In the first, pressure is applied to shape and fully
density the reactants while the transient phase is soft, i.e., before
reaction. Once the reactants are densified, the reaction is allowed to
proceed, forming a new phase and rendering the matrix more refractory
. If the volume change upon reaction is small, then the density of the
final compact will remain near theoretical. Using this approach ceram
ic/ceramic composites in the Ti-B-C system were hot-pressed to full de
nsity and complex shapes at temperatures as low as 1600-degrees-C.