Fabrication and Mechanical Properties of Textured Ti₃SiC₂ Systems Using Commercial Powders

Abstract

Ti₃SiC₂ is a typical M_n+1AX_n (MAX) phase ceramics and shows unique metallic-like and ceramic-like properties. To improve these properties, texturing and Al₂O₃ addition have been conducted. The commercial Ti₃SiC₂ powder used contains approximately 10 wt% TiC phase. Textured Ti₃SiC₂ was prepared by slip cast in strong magnetic fields followed by spark plasma sintering (SPS) at 1350°C under 40 MPa for 5 min. The Lotgering orientation factor of (00l) peaks of Ti₃SiC₂ with magnetic field (MF) was 0.96, and relative density of samples was beyond 99%. The bending strength and fracture toughness of Ti₃SiC₂ were improved by texturing. Ti₃SiC₂ with magnetic field showed excellent value of bending strength of 978 MPa, but Al₂O₃ addition caused deterioration of bending strength and fracture toughness. Ti₃SiC₂ with MF showed the plastic deformation at temperature at around 900°C.