Ceramic Matrix Composites Obtained by the Reactive Sintering of Boron Carbide with Intermetallic Compounds from the Ti-Si System

Abstract

In this study, we investigated the effect of adding two different intermetallics, Ti5Si3 and TiSi2, for the preparation of TiB2-SiC-B4C composites. As part of the research, stoichiometric composites consisting only of two phases TiB2 and SiC were obtained. The TiB2-SiC-B4C composites were prepared via pressureless sintering. The presence of the phases in the sintered composites was confirmed using X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy. The SEM-EDS examination revealed that the TiB2 and SiC phases were formed during the composite process synthesis and were distributed homogeneously in the B4C matrix. The obtained results allowed us to usually exceed 2000 °C and the use of specialized equipment for firing, that is, vacuum or protective atmosphere furnaces as well as control and measurement equipment. Such an approach generates high costs that are decisive for the economics of the technological processes. In the case of our compositions, it is possible to lower the temperature to 1650 °C. The TiB2-SiC-B4C composites were classified as UHTCs.