In-situ preparation of SiC-MoSi_2 composite by microwave reaction sintering

摘要

A 20% volume SiC reinforced MoSi_2 composite has been successfully in-situ prepared by precisely controlling the microwave reaction sintering process. After sintering, a uniform dispersion of SiC particles was obtained in the MoSi_2 matrix from the reaction of Mo, Si and C powders. The sintered product is a composition of MoSi_2, Mo_(4.8)Si_3C_(0.6) and SiC. The relative density, flexural strength, Vicker's hardness and fracture toughness of the composite are 91.5%, 251.29 MPa, 7.86 GPa and 8.17 MPam~(1/2), respectively. We found the heating procedure is critical in the microwave reaction sintering process to obtain dense SiC-MoSi_2 composites.