Microstructure and mechanical properties of SiC–mullite nanocomposite prepared by spark plasma sintering

SiC–mullite nanocomposites were prepared from nanosized SiC and mullite powder mixtures by spark plasma sintering (SPS). It was found that fully densified nanocomposites were obtained at a relatively low temperature of 1500 °C, which show a typical intragranular nanostructure with many SiC nanoparticles and dislocation networks existing inside mullite grains. The strengths of the prepared nanocomposite are improved significantly over that of the monolithic mullite, although the toughness does not show evident improvement.