Simultaneous Synthesis and Densification of Nanostructured NbSi2-SiC-Si3N4 by Rapid Sintering

Abstract

A dense nanostructured 5NbSi2-SiC-Si3N4 composite was synthesized by the high-frequency induction-heated combustion synthesis (HFIHCS) method within 1 minute in one step from mechanically activated powders of 4NbN, NbC and 14Si. A highly dense 5NbSi2-SiC-Si3N4 composite with relative density of up to 98% was produced under the simultaneous application of a pressure of 80 MPa and the induced current. The average grain size and mechanical properties (hardness and fracture toughness) of the composite were investigated.