Improvement in mechanical/physical properties of TiC-based ceramics sintered at 1500 °C for inert matrix fuels

Abstract

Dense TiC-based ceramics were obtained at 1500°C by hot pressing, benefiting from Ti and Si additives in the TiC matrix. The in-situ formed Ti3SiC2 platelet grains refined TiC grains and reinforced the obtained ceramics. The TiC–20vol.% Ti3SiC2 ceramic exhibits a much higher flexural strength of 1003MPa, compared with 450MPa of the pure TiC ceramic. Owing to the formation of continuous heat-conducting paths by the bridged Ti3SiC2 platelet, a high thermal conductivity over 33W/m·k was measured in TiC–40vol.% Ti3SiC2 at 500°C, which is nearly 1.5 times than that in the pure TiC ceramics with a similar grain size.