Reaction sintering of titanium carbide and titanium silicide prepared by high-energy milling

Powders of titanium, silicon and carbon black with a molar ratio of 3:1:2 were milled in a high-energy ball mill in order to produce titanium silicon carbide (Ti3SiC2). The milling process initiated an exothermic reaction and the starting material was completely converted into a mixture of mainly titanium carbide (TiC) and minor amounts of TiSi2, Ti5Si3Cx and Ti3SiC2. Using off-stoichiometric mixtures or SiC as a source of silicon did not affect the amount of TiC in the product. To obtain Ti3SiC2 the as-milled powders were pressed to compacts and sintered for 2 h. The thermal treatment caused the formation of large amounts of Ti3SiC2. Using a slight excess of silicon in the range of 10–30%, pure samples of the ternary phase could be obtained.