Electrically conductive SiC–(Nb,Ti)ss–(Nb,Ti)Css cermet

The present paper deals with the processing method of SiC–(Nb,Ti)(ss)–(Ti,Nb)C(ss) composites. The electrically conductive phases were formed by in situ reaction: NbC(s) + Ti(s) → (Nb,Ti)(ss) + (Ti,Nb)C(ss) that takes place during the reaction sintering by hot pressing. Prepared composites exhibit good compromise between electrical and mechanical properties and the present approach allows preparing a wide variety of compositions. For example composites containing 80 wt.% SiC and 20 wt.% {(Nb,Ti)(ss)–(Ti,Nb)C(ss)} have an electrical resistivity 2.6 × 10−4 Ω m, hardness 21.6 GPa and fracture toughness 6.3 MPa m1/2.