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Toughening mechanisms of Ti3SiC2- and TiB2- toughened SiC matrix prepared via reactive melt infiltration

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Abstract

The SiC–Ti3SiC2–TiB2 composites herein were prepared in situ by reactive melt infiltration (RMI). The synergy mechanism between Ti3SiC2 and TiB2 on fracture toughness of SiC matrix was investigated. The phase composition and microstructure of SiC–Ti3SiC2–TiB2 composites were studied, and their mechanical properties, such as Vickers hardness, elastic modulus and indent fracture toughness, were compared to those of SiC ceramics and SiC–Ti3SiC2 composites. The crack propagation of SiC–Ti3SiC2–TiB2 composites was simulated via Extended Finite Element Method (XFEM), and the fracture behavior in laminated Ti3SiC2 grains was also evaluated. The results show that SiC–Ti3SiC2–TiB2 composites exhibit an indentation fracture toughness of 9.57 MPa m1/2, which is greatly higher than that of SiC ceramics and SiC–Ti3SiC2 composites. It was suggested that the main toughening mechanisms of lamellar Ti3SiC2 grains and columnar TiB2 grains are crack deflection, crack bridging, grain fracture, delamination and grain pull-out.

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The datasets generated during and/or analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. National Key Laboratory of Advanced Composites, AECC Beijing Institute of Aeronautical Materials, Beijing, 100095, China

    Y. R. Zhou, J. Jiao, Z. Y. Jiang, H. Liu, Y. Gao, X. X. Lv & Y. J. Ai

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  1. Y. R. Zhou
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  2. J. Jiao
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  3. Z. Y. Jiang
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  4. H. Liu
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Correspondence to J. Jiao.

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Zhou, Y.R., Jiao, J., Jiang, Z.Y. et al. Toughening mechanisms of Ti3SiC2- and TiB2- toughened SiC matrix prepared via reactive melt infiltration. Journal of Materials Research 36, 4963–4973 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1557/s43578-021-00402-3

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