Fabrication and Mechanical Properties of Textured Ti3SiC2 Systems Using Commercial Powder

Ti3SiC2 is a typical M(n+1)AX(n) (MAX) phase ceramic and exhibits both metal-like and ceramic-like properties. To improve these properties, texturing and Al2O3 addition were performed. The commercial Ti3SiC2 powder used contained approximately 10 mass% TiC phase. Textured Ti3SiC2 was prepared by slip casting in a strong magnetic field (MF) followed by spark plasma sintering (SPS) at 1623 K under a pressure of 40 MPa for 5 min. The Lotgering orientation factor of the (00l) peaks of Ti3SiC2 prepared under an MF was 0.96, and the relative density of samples exceeded 99%. The bending strength and fracture toughness of Ti3SiC2 were improved by texturing. The textured Ti3SiC2 exhibited an excellent bending strength of 978 MPa, but Al2O3 addition, reduced the bending strength and fracture toughness. The textured Ti3SiC2 showed the plastic deformation at a temperature of approximately 1173 K.