Phase relations in the Ti-Si-C system

Abstract For the ,system Ti-Si-C ations of these new materials in e.g. cutting tools, aerospace engines, or as composite materials in the aircraft industry are very promising. In all these applications the interaction between the metal and ceramic is of crucial importance. In this laboratory the authors are studying this interaction specifically for combinations of titanium (with and without aluminium) with silicon carbide and with silicon nitride. This interaction is being investigated with the so-called diffusion-couple technique and an attempt t0 predict the reaction layer sequence, morphology and reaction rate according to the model developed by van Loo el al.~ is being made. To use this model the phase diagrams of the systems Ti-Si-C and Ti-Si-N are needed, which are not reliably known up to now. In this article attention is focused upon the Ti-Si-C system. Firstly the data given in the literature will be discussed. In the second part the experiments performed to determine the isothermal cross-sections of the phase diagram will be reported, followed by a discussion of the results. Finally some conclusions are drawn. On a dOterminO les diagrammes de phases ?t 1373 e