Spark plasma sintering of self-propagating high-temperature synthesized TiC0.7/TiB2 powders and detailed characterization of dense product

The obtained TiC0.7/TiB2 samples exhibit hardness HV5 as high as 24 GPa, modulus of elasticity of about 400 GPa, fracture toughness of about 5.6 MPa m1/2, and a compressive strength of about 2.9 GPa. A very low-wear rate (Wv = 3.8 × 10−6 mm3/(N m)) and a good thermal shock resistance (ΔTc = 250 °C) are also displayed. In addition, a high-abrasive wear factor (AWF) equal to 1.84 is evaluated on the basis of the achieved mechanical properties. These results make the obtained TiC0.7/TiB2 composite suitable for wear resistant parts as well as cutting tool materials.