Spark Plasma Sintering of Ceramic Matrix Composites with Self‐Healing Matrix

Abstract

The processing of dense Ceramic Matrix Composites (CMC) by a short time and so by low cost process was studied. This process is based on (i) the chemical vapor deposition of carbon interphase on the fiber surface, (ii) the introduction of mineral powders inside the multidirectional continuous fiber preform and (iii) the densification of the matrix by Spark Plasma Sintering (SPS). To prevent carbon fibers and interphase from oxidation in service, a self-healing matrix made of silicon nitride and titanium diboride was processed. A thermal treatment of 3 minutes at 1500°C allows to fully consolidate by SPS the composite without fiber degradation. The ceramic matrix composites obtained have an ultimate bending stress at room temperature around 300 MPa and show a self-healing behaviour in oxidizing conditions.

Microstructure, Mechanical Characteristics, and Wear Performance of Spark Plasma Sintered TiB2–Si3N4 as Affected by B4N Doping

“…Due to its high melting point, ultra-high temperature ceramics (UHTCs) are the best materials to use in hard environments [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 ]. TiB 2 is one of the UHTC that has received a lot of attention due to its impressive list of properties, which includes a higher hardness (33 MPa), higher melting point (3225 °C), abrasive resistance, less heat expansion coefficient, and higher Young’s modulus (530 MPa) [ 5 ].…”