Fabrication and characterization of SiCw/MoSi2 composite from COSHSed powder

SiC whisker reinforced MoSi2 composite has been successfully fabricated by hot-press sintering from ‘‘chemical oven’’ combustion synthesized powder. After sintering, a uniform dispersion of SiC whiskers is obtained in the MoSi2 matrix. The Vickers hardness, flexural strength and fracture toughness of the SiCw/MoSi2 composite are 11.15 GPa, 457 MPa and 6.20 MPa m1/2, increased by 26.1%, 134.3% and 47.3% as compared to MoSi2 matrix, respectively. At last, the mechanism of mechanical properties improvement was also proposed