Synthesis of Ti3SiC2 powders by mechanically activated sintering of elemental powders of Ti, Si and C

Mechanically activated sintering process has been employed to fabricate titanium silicon carbide (Ti3SiC2) powders by using the elemental powders of Ti, Si and C. Superfine powders were obtained after milling of both the powder mixtures with a stoichiometric composition and with an excess of 20 mol.% Si for only 1.5 h. The milled powders comprised TiC, Ti3SiC2 and silicides because a mechanically induced self-propagating reaction (MSR) was triggered during mechanical alloying. The aim of the extra-Si introduced to the starting composition is to study its effect on the formation of Ti3SiC2. High content of Ti3SiC2 has been obtained after sintering the milled powders at relatively low temperature of 1250 °C. Ti3SiC2 grains exhibit a fast growth behavior and various features in shape. A large amount of Ti3SiC2 whiskers have been found after sintering the milled powders with excess of Si at 1350 °C. The formation of Ti3SiC2 whiskers has relation to the appearance of eutectic liquid phases at that temperature.