Fabrication and characterization of sintered TiC–SiC composites

Some TiC–SiC composites with different SiC volume contents (0, 10, 25 and 50%) are prepared by spark plasma sintering (SPS). The relationship between density, grain growth and temperature is studied in order to fabricate dense and nano-sized TiC–SiC composites. A sintering by SPS at 1800 °C during 5 min allowed to form TiC–SiC composites with relative density above 95% and an homogeneous distribution of TiC (grain size from 270 to 900 μm) and nano-sized SiC. With the increasing of SiC volume contents, Vickers hardness and fracture toughness are improved; thermal conductivity at room temperature is increased whereas at high temperature it is reduced. In future studies, those materials will be irradiated to characterize monolithic TiC and TiC–SiC composites behaviour under irradiation.