Abstract
A new synthesis process for nano laminating Ti$_3$SiC$_2$ has been developed using TiCx (x=0.67) and Si powder as starting materials by a reaction hot pressing. Bulk Ti$_3$SiC$_2$ was fabricated using a green body consisting of TiCx and Si by a hot pressing under the pressures of 25 MPa at 1420-1550 $^{\circ}C$ for 90 min. The synthesized Ti$_3$SiC$_2$ was consisting of only TiCx and Ti$_3$SiC$_2$. The relative density of sintered bulk Ti$_3$SiC$_2$ was increased as the hot pressing temperature was increased, which was mainly due to the increase in TiCx contents in synthesized Ti$_3$SiC$_2$. The synthesized Ti$_3$SiC$_2$ bulk was consisted of nano sized lamella structure of 20-100 nm in thickness. It was found that TiCx particles in Ti$_3$SiC$_2$ would increase the 3-point bending strength of synthesized Ti$_3$SiC$_2$ bulk. The maximum 3-P. bending strength of synthesized Ti$_3$SiC$_2$ bulk was more than 800 MPa. The Vickers hardness of synthesized Ti$_3$SiC$_2$bulk was as low as 5 Gpa, which was decreased with the indentation load. The quasi-plastic deformation behaviors were observed around indentation mark on Ti$_3$SiC$_2$.
