Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of TiN–TiB2–hBN Composites Fabricated by Reactive Hot Pressing Using TiN–B Mixture

In this study, TiN–TiB2–hBN composite ceramics were prepared via reactive hot pressing using TiN and amorphous B powders as raw materials. Different sintering temperatures and composition ratios were studied. The results show that the 70 vol% TiN–17.6 vol% TiB2–12.4 vol% hBN ceramic composites obtained ideal comprehensive properties at 1600 °C. The relative density, Vickers hardness, bending strength, and fracture toughness were 99%, 11 GPa, 521 MPa, and 4.22 MPa·m1/2, respectively. Densification was promoted by the highly active reaction product TiB2, and the structural defects formed in the grains. Meanwhile, the good interfacial bonding between TiN and TiB2 grains and the uniform dispersion of ultrafine hBN in the matrix contributed to the excellent bending strength. Moreover, the toughening mechanism of crack deflection and grain pull-out improved the fracture toughness.

Microstructural evolution and mechanical properties of in situ nano Ta4HfC5 reinforced SiBCN composite ceramics

The in situ nano Ta4HfC5 reinforced SiBCN-Ta4HfC5 composite ceramics were prepared by a combination of two-step mechanical alloying and reactive hot-pressing sintering. The microstructural evolution and mechanical properties of the resulting SiBCN-Ta4HfC5 were studied. After the first-step milling of 30 h, the raw materials of TaC and HfC underwent crushing, cold sintering, and short-range interdiffusion to finally obtain the high pure nano Ta4HfC5. A hybrid structure of amorphous SiBCN and nano Ta4HfC5 was obtained by adopting a second-step ball-milling. After reactive hot-pressing sintering, amorphous SiBCN has crystallized to 3C-SiC, 6H-SiC, and turbostratic BN(C) phases and Ta4HfC5 retained the form of the nanostructure. With the in situ generations of 2.5 wt% Ta4HfC5, Ta4HfC5 is preferentially distributed within the turbostratic BN(C); however, as Ta4HfC5 content further raised to 10 wt%, it mainly distributed in the grain-boundary of BN(C) and SiC. The introduction of Ta4HfC5 nanocrystals can effectively improve the flexural strength and fracture toughness of SiBCN ceramics, reaching to 344.1 MPa and 4.52 MPa·m1/2, respectively. This work has solved the problems of uneven distribution of ultra-high temperature phases in the ceramic matrix, which is beneficial to the real applications of SiBCN ceramics.

Microstructure and mechanical properties of Ti3(Al,Ga)C2/Al2O3 composites prepared by in situ reactive hot pressing

In this study, Ti3(Al,Ga)C2/Al2O3 composites were successfully synthesized by in situ hot pressing at 1350 °C for 2 h using Ti, Al, TiC, and Ga2O3 as raw materials. X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy were used for characterizing the phase identities and microstructures of the sintered composites. The dependence of the Vickers hardness and flexural strength on the Al2O3 content was found to be in single-peak type. Ti3(Al0.6,Ga0.4)C2/10.3vol%Al2O3 composite exhibited significantly improved mechanical properties. Vickers hardness and flexural strength of the composite reached 6.58 GPa and 527.11 MPa, which were 40% and 74% higher than those of Ti3AlC2, respectively. Formation of solid solution and incorporation of second phase of Al2O3 resulted in the opposite influence on the fracture toughness. Finally, the hardening and strengthening mechanisms were discussed in detail.