Mechanical properties of synthesized Ti3SiC2 by hot pressing from TiCx/Si powder mixture

Abstract

In this study, bulk Ti3SiC2 was synthesized from TiCx(x=0.67)/Si system by hot pressing at the temperature range of 1300 similar to 1500 degrees C in Ar atmosphere. It was found that synthesis of Ti3SiC2 from TiCx/Si system suppressed. the formation of intermediate phases. The presence of unreacted TiCx particles in laminated structure of Ti3SiC2 grain was found to improve the flexural strength of bulk Ti3SiC2 by blocking the crack propagation along the basal plane of Ti3SiC2. The Vickers hardness of synthesized Ti3SiC2 bulk was as low as about 6 GPa, which was decreased with increasing indentation load.