Mechanical properties of Ti<sub>3</sub>SiC<sub>2</sub>-based composites obtained by spark plasma sintering

Composite materials with different contents of the MAX phase Ti 3 SiC 2 were obtained by a two-stage heat treatment of Ti / Si / C and Ti / Si / TiC powder mixtures. Solid phase vacuum sintering and spark plasma sintering (SPS) technologies were used for the heat treatment. The maximum content of Ti 3 SiC 2 was achieved in composites prepared by vacuum sintering the composition 3Ti/1,2Si/2C at 1400 ◦C for 1 h with subsequent consolidation by SPS (1300 ◦C, pressure 50 MPa, holding time 5 min) with addition of 5 wt. % Si. The effect of phase composition and porosity on the mechanical properties of the obtained composites (hardness, flexural strength and elastic modulus) was investigated. The fracture of the composites was characterised as brittle and occurs by a mixed mechanism.