Direct sintering of SiC–W composites with enhanced thermal conductivity

Different types of SiC–W composites have been realized by spark plasma sintering in a single step process starting with beta SiC nanometric powder, W nanometric and micrometric sized powders, and W foils. SEM, EDX, XRD and X-ray tomography have been used to analyze the sample morphology while the thermal properties of the resulting materials have been investigated up to 1000 °C using a LFA thermal analyzer. The results show the possibility to produce dense W–SiC composites, with enhanced thermal conductivity using a relatively simple route.