Comparison study of Fe-based matrix composites reinforced with Ti-coated and Mo-coated SiC particles

The comparison study of Ti-coated and Mo-coated SiC particles reinforced Fe-based matrix composites were investigated in this work. The Ti-coated and Mo-coated SiC particles were prepared by discharge treatment on a mixture of SiC particles and the corresponding metal powders in the SPS system. The coatings on Ti-coated SiC particles were composed of Ti, TiC, and Ti5Si3 phase, while Mo, Mo2C, MoSi2, Mo5Si3, and Mo3Si phase existed in the Mo-coated ones. The formed Ti coatings and Mo coatings on SiC particles were 300 nm and 500 nm in thickness, respectively. The Mo-coated SiC particles were better than the Ti-coated ones in improving the mechanical properties of SiC reinforced Fe-based matrix composites. It was estimated that the increased interface bonding strength between the Mo-coated SiC particles and the matrix was higher by 138 MPa than that between the Ti-coated SiC particles and the matrix.