Evaluating high-temperature modulus and elastic recovery of Ti3SiC2 and Ti3AlC2 ceramics

Elastic modulus and elastic recovery of both Ti3SiC2 and Ti3AlC2 at various temperatures were evaluated using cyclic loading-unloading in three-point bending tests and comparing relative slopes. It was found that the elastic moduli of Ti3SiC2 and Ti3AlC2, 310 and 288 GPa, were nearly constants in the temperature range from 20 to 1000 degreesC and then dramatically declined with further increasing of temperature. Elastic recovery as a function of temperature exhibited quite similar curve as the elastic modulus. The simple testing method was demonstrated convenient for estimating the elastic modulus and plastic deformation of ceramics at high temperature. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.