Fabrication of SiCw/Ti3SiC2 composites with improved thermal conductivity and mechanical properties using spark plasma sintering

• Main Authors: Xiaobing Zhou, Lei Jing, Yong Duk Kwon, Jin-Young Kim, Zhengren Huang, Dang-Hyok Yoon, Jaehyung Lee, Qing Huang
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: SpringerOpen 2020-07-01
• Series: Journal of Advanced Ceramics
• Subjects: SiC whisker; Ti3SiC2; mechanical property; thermal conductivity; spark plasma sintering
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40145-020-0389-2
• ISSN: 2226-4108; 2227-8508

Abstract High strength SiC whisker-reinforced Ti3SiC2 composites (SiCw/Ti3SiC2) with an improved thermal conductivity and mechanical properties were fabricated by spark plasma sintering. The bending strength of 10 wt% SiCw/Ti3SiC2 was 635 MPa, which was approximately 50% higher than that of the monolithic Ti3SiC2 (428 MPa). The Vickers hardness and thermal conductivity (k) also increased by 36% and 25%, respectively, from the monolithic Ti3SiC2 by the incorporation of 10 wt% SiCw. This remarkable improvement both in mechanical and thermal properties was attributed to the fine-grained uniform composite microstructure along with the effects of incorporated SiCw. The SiCw/Ti3SiC2 can be a feasible candidate for the in-core structural application in nuclear reactors due to the excellent mechanical and thermal properties.