Synthesis and Sintering of Ti₃SiC₂–SiC Composites through Reactive Hot-Pressing of TiC and Si Precursors

Fully-dense Ti₃SiC₂–SiC composites were in-situ synthesized and sintered through a reactive hot-pressing process using TiC and Si powders with different molar ratios of 3TiC:3Si, 3TiC:2Si (stoichiometric composition), and 3TiC:1.5Si. Phase characterization of the hot-pressed specimens was performed by X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis, and the microstructures were studied by scanning electron microscope (SEM). The mechanical properties of the hot-pressed composites were investigated in terms of Vickers hardness, fracture toughness, and flexural strength. It was found that the in-situ synthesized SiC particles, with platelet morphology, have been distributed in the in-situ formed Ti₃SiC₂ matrix. The highest Vickers hardness belonged to the 3TiC:1.5Si sample with a value of 14.2 GPa, related to the presence of SiC and residual TiC phase in the microstructure. The flexural strength enhanced with increasing the molar value of Si, due to the presence of the free Si phase in the sample and the further formation of the SiC phase. The 3TiC:3Si sample achieved the highest fracture toughness of 10.1 MPa.m^1/2 and the highest flexural strength of 576 MPa.