Phase decomposition of TiC−ZrC solid solution prepared by spark plasma sintering

A 90TiC–10ZrC (mol%) solid solution was consolidated by spark plasma sintering at 2373 K and decomposed into Zr0.94Ti0.06C nodules and Ti0.97Zr0.03C matrix by heat treatment at 1573 K. The Zr0.94Ti0.06C nodules were precipitated in the Ti0.97Zr0.03C matrix with Ti0.97Zr0.03C {100} // Zr0.94Ti0.06C {100}. The Vickers hardness and fracture toughness increased with increasing heat treatment time up to 36 ks and exhibited the maximum values of 25.9 GPa and 3.3 MPa m1/2, respectively.