Low temperature sintering of ZrC–SiC composite

High-energy ball milling and spark plasma sintering were adopted to prepare ZrC–SiC composite. Zirconium carbide, silicon, and graphite powders were used as raw materials. ZrC–30 vol.%SiC was sintered to a relative density of >96.1% at 1800 °C. The composite showed a fine microstructure. The fracture strength reached up to 523.4 MPa, Vickers’ hardness 18.8 GPa, fracture toughness 4.0 MPa m1/2, and elastic modulus 390.5 GPa.

► Zirconium carbide, silicon, and graphite powders were used as raw materials to prepare ZrC–SiC composite.
► ZrC–30 vol.%SiC was sintered to a relative density of >96.1% at 1800 °C by SPS.
► The obtained ZrC–30 vol.%SiC composite exhibited a fine microstructure and excellent mechanical properties.