In situ platelet-toughened TiB2–SiC composites prepared by reactive pulsed electric current sintering

Partially textured TiB2–SiC composites were prepared by reactive pulsed electric current sintering of attrition-milled TiH2–B–SiC–B4C powder mixtures. Plate-like TiB2 grains, formed in situ with their elongated direction perpendicular to the pressing direction, improved both the strength and fracture toughness of the composites. The TiB2 composites with 20–30 vol.% SiC combined a three-point flexural strength of 625–695 MPa with a Vickers hardness of 21.1–23.5 GPa and a fracture toughness of 5.7–7.3 MPa m1/2.