Microstructure and mechanical properties of SiC-GNPS-SiCW ceramics by oscillatory pressure sintering

The preparation of SiC-based ceramics with high densification, high strength and exceptional toughness is still a severe challenge. In the present work, an advanced sintering technique namely oscillatory pressure sintering (OPS) was applied to prepare SiC ceramics with one-dimensional silicon carbide whiskers (SiCw) and twodimensional graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs) as reinforcing phases, and the microstructure and mechanical properties were comprehensively investigated. When the contents of GNPs and SiCw were 1 wt% and 5 wt% respectively, the relative density of SiC-based ceramics reached 99.86%, while the Vickers hardness, flexure strength and fracture toughness were 31.55 GPa, 742 MPa and 7.32 MPa m1/2, respectively. The interface was strengthened, meanwhile the grain size was decreased, both of which enhanced the flexural strength of the composites. Results also proved that crack deflection and bridging as well as the bridging of GNPs and SiCw toughened SiC-based ceramics. Furthermore, the coherent interfaces of SiC/GNPS and SiC/SiCw with good match were observed, leading to an enhancement of mechanical properties of such ceramics.