SiC whisker reinforced MoSi2 composite prepared by spark plasma sintering from COSHS-ed powder

SiC whisker reinforced MoSi2 composite powder was synthesized by a novel process, referred to the literature as chemical oven self-propagating high temperature synthesis(COSHS). The as-prepared SiCw/MoSi2 composite powder was rapidly sintered by spark plasma sintering(SPS) process. The sintering temperature and pressure were 1 723 K at heating rate of 100 K/min and 40 MPa, respectively. The microstructure and mechanical properties of the composite were investigated. Relative densities of the monolithic material and composite are 95% and 99.3%, respectively. SEM micrographs of SiCw/MoSi2 composite show that SiC whiskers homogeneously distribute in MoSi2 matrix. The composite containing SiC whisker has higher Vicker hardness than monolithic MoSi2. Especially the room-temperature fracture toughness of the composite is higher than that of MoSi2, from 3.6 MPa·m1/2 for MoSi2 to 7.7 MPa·m1/2 for composite with 15% SiC(volume fraction), increased by 113.9%. The morphology of propagation of crack and fractured surface of composite reveal the mechnaism to improve fracture toughness of MoSi2 matrix. The results show that the in-situ SiCw/MoSi2 composite powder prepared by COSHS technique can be successfully sinterded through SPS process and significant improvement of low temperature fracture toughness can be achieved.