Microstructure and properties of nano-laminated Y3Si2C2 ceramics fabricated via in situ reaction by spark plasma sintering

• Main Authors: Lin-Kun Shi, Xiaobing Zhou, Jian-Qing Dai, Ke Chen, Zhengren Huang, Qing Huang
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: SpringerOpen 2021-04-01
• Series: Journal of Advanced Ceramics
• Subjects: Y3Si2C2; rare earth silicide carbides; spark plasma sintering (SPS); ternary layered structure ceramic; properties
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40145-021-0459-0

Abstract A nano-laminated Y3Si2C2 ceramic material was successfully synthesized via an in situ reaction between YH2 and SiC using spark plasma sintering technology. A MAX phase-like ternary layered structure of Y3Si2C2 was observed at the atomic-scale by high resolution transmission electron microscopy. The lattice parameters calculated from both X-ray diffraction and selected area electron diffraction patterns are in good agreement with the reported theoretical results. The nano-laminated fracture of kink boundaries, delamination, and slipping were observed at the tip of the Vickers indents. The elastic modulus and Vickers hardness of Y3Si2C2 ceramics (with 5.5 wt% Y2O3) sintered at 1500 °C were 156 and 6.4 GPa, respectively. The corresponding values of thermal and electrical conductivity were 13.7 W·m-1·K-1 and 6.3×105 S·m-1, respectively.