Effect of TiC0.4 on microstructure and properties of Ti3SiC2 matrix composites

Owing to the poor interfacial bonding between reinforcing phases and Ti3SiC2 matrix, the Ti3SiC2 matrix composites enhanced by the reinforcements still exhibited inadequate mechanical and tribological properties. In this paper, the Ti3SiC2 matrix composites reinforced by the 10, 20, and 30 vol%TiC0.4 addition were fabricated using spark plasma sintering (SPS) at 1400 °C. The effect of TiC0.4 addition on microstructure and properties of the Ti3SiC2 matrix composites was investigated. The results showed that TiC0.4 addition not only improved the interfacial bonding between reinforcing phases and Ti3SiC2 matrix by promoting the decomposition of Ti3SiC2, but also formed TiCx hard phase, improving the mechanical and tribological properties of the Ti3SiC2 matrix composites. With 20 vol% of TiC0.4 amount, the TiC0.4-Ti3SiC2 composite demonstrated the optimal comprehensive properties, the bulk density, relative density, hardness, fracture toughness, friction coefficient, and wear rate at room temperature reached the values of 4.6 g/cm3, 99.6%, 12.01 GPa, 6.18 MPa m1/2, 0.63, and 4.59×10−7 mm3N−1m−1, respectively. The wear mechanism of the TiC0.4-Ti3SiC2 composites was mainly ascribed to adhesive wear at room temperature.