In situ platelet-toughened TiB2-SiC composites prepared by reactive pulsed electric current sintering

Partially textured TiB2-SiC composites were prepared by reactive pulsed electric current sintering of attrition-milled TiH2-B-SiC- B4C powder mixtures. Plate-like TiB2 grains, formed in situ with their elongated direction perpendicular to the pressing direction, improved both the strength and fracture toughness of the composites. The TiB2 composites with 20-30 vol.% SiC combined a three-point flexural strength of 625-695 MPa with a Vickers hardness of 21.1-23.5 GPa and a fracture toughness of 5.7-7.3 MPa m1/2. © 2011 Acta Materialia Inc. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.status: publishe