Rapid fabrication of Ti3SiC2–SiC nanocomposite using the spark plasma sintering-reactive synthesis (SPS-RS) method

A mixture of Ti, C, Si powders and Al (as a sintering aid) was adopted to synthesize the Ti3SiC2–SiC nanocomposite using the spark plasma sintering-reactive synthesis method. SiC did not form directly from Si and C, but from intermediate phases TiCx and Ti5Si3Cy, leaving C. The grain size of Ti3SiC2 is about 5 μm, but the average grain size of SiC is about 100 nm. With its fine microstructure, the Ti3SiC2–20 vol.%SiC composite shows improved mechanical properties at room temperature.