Synthesis of Ti₃SiC₂ through Pulse Discharge Sintering Powder Mixture Containing Coarse Ti

Abstract

Ternary compound Ti₃SiC₂ was successfully synthesized by pulse discharge sintering (PDS) for Ti/Si/TiC powder mixtures with different molar ratios, where coarse Ti powder (−0.15 mm) was used. When the molar ratio of Ti:Si:TiC was selected to be 2:2:3, the content of Ti₃SiC₂ reached 97.8% and density reached 99.0% after sintering at 1450°C for 20 min under 50 MPa load. The Ti-Si liquid reaction occurred above the Ti-Ti₅Si₃ eutectic temperature at 1330°C is thought to assist the synthesis reaction of Ti₃SiC₂ as well as densification.