Effect of ZrB2 and SiC addition on TiB2-based ceramic composites prepared by spark plasma sintering

TiB2-based ceramic composites with different amounts of ZrB2 and SiC were prepared by spark plasma sintering at 1700 °C with an initial pressure of 40 MPa and a holding time of 10 min. The (TixZry)B2 solid solution was found in the sintered TiB2/ZrB2/SiC composites by XRD. The microstructural and mechanical properties of the prepared samples were investigated. The composite with the addition of 30 vol.% ZrB2 shows better comprehensive performances, and the bending strength and the fracture toughness of the composite are 780.5 MPa and 7.34 MPa m1/2, respectively. The generation of the (TixZry)B2 solid solution makes the microstructures of the composites finer and more homogeneous, which has played a very important role in grain refinement and interface fusion.