Short SiC fiber/Ti₃SiC₂ MAX phase composites: Fabrication and creep evaluation

Abstract

The compressive creep of silicon carbide fiber reinforced Ti 3 SiC 2 MAX phase with both fine and coarse microstructure was investigated in the temperature range of 1000-1300°C. Comparison of only steady-state creep was done to understand the response of fabricated composite materials toward creep deformation. It was demonstrated that the fibers are more effective in reducing the creep rates for the coarse microstructure by an increase in activation energy compared to the variant with a finer microstructure, being partly a result of the enhanced creep rates for the microstructure with larger grain size. Grain boundary sliding along with fiber fracture appears to be the main creep mechanism for most of the tested temperature range. However, there are indications for a changed creep mechanism for the fine microstructure for the lowest testing temperature. Local pores are formed to accommodate differences in strain related to creeping matrix and predominantly elastically deformed fibers during creep. Microstructural analysis was done on the material before and after creep to understand the deformation mechanics. K E Y W O R D S ceramic matrix composites, creep resistance, SiC fibers, Ti 3 SiC 2 This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Compressive creep of SiC whisker/Ti3SiC2 composites at high temperature in air

“…Zhou et al and Li et al used SiC reinforcement to improve the oxidation resistance of Ti 3 SiC 2 at high temperature and these results are indicative of better oxidation resistance of the composites fabricated in the present work 17,18 . Recently, we also explored the effect of short SiC fibers 1 mm on the creep behavior of Ti 3 SiC 2 19 …”

“…The black arrows in Figure 8G other and are operating in loops around the whiskers as well as the Ti 3 SiC 2 phase ( Figure 9D). The network of dislocations can be attributed to common dislocation reactions operative in hcp materials, ie, 1/3 [11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20] 10]. Deformation by creep induces these dislocation networks which indicates grain rotation.…”

“…17,18 Recently, we also explored the effect of short SiC fibers 1 mm on the creep behavior of Ti 3 SiC 2 . 19 The evaluation of mechanical properties of MAX phasebased composites is majorly done at room temperature. 20,21 The high-temperature mechanical property evaluation of short-fiber reinforced MAX phase has not been reported up to now and, hence, this work presents the evaluation of compressive creep of SiC whisker (SiC w ) reinforced Ti 3 SiC 2 MAX phase.…”

Processing of MAX phases: From synthesis to applications

“…210,211 In the case of Ti 3 SiC 2 reinforced with SiC fibers or SiC whiskers, the creep resistance at temperatures up to 1300°C was improved up to two orders of magnitude. 212,213 Furthermore, addition of 10wt% of short SiC fibers into Cr 2 AlC enhanced the tribological response, specifically a reduction of 20% in the friction coefficient and up to 80% in the wear rate. 116 MAX phases have also been added into metallic matrices to improve some properties.…”

“…No reactions have been reported for Ti 3 SiC 2 and Cr 2 AlC with SiC fibers at high temperature, 116,208 as well as for Ti 2 AlC, Ti 3 AlC 2 , and Cr 2 AlC with Al 2 O 3 fibers 210,211 . In the case of Ti 3 SiC 2 reinforced with SiC fibers or SiC whiskers, the creep resistance at temperatures up to 1300°C was improved up to two orders of magnitude 212,213 . Furthermore, addition of 10wt% of short SiC fibers into Cr 2 AlC enhanced the tribological response, specifically a reduction of 20% in the friction coefficient and up to 80% in the wear rate 116 …”