Consolidation and mechanical properties of nanostructured 2MoSi2-SiC composite synthesized by high-frequency induction heated combustion

Dense nanostructured 2MoSi(2)-SiC composite was synthesized by high-frequency induction heated combustion synthesis (HFIHCS) method within 1 min in one step from powders of Mo2C and 5Si. Simultaneous combustion synthesis and densification were accomplished under the combined effects of an induced current and mechanical pressure. Highly dense 2MoSi(2)-SiC with relative density of up to 96.5% was produced under simultaneous application of a 60 MPa pressure and the induced current. The average grain size Of MoSi2 and SiC were about 50 and 40 nm, respectively. The hardness and fracture toughness values obtained were 1540 kg/mm(2) and 4.6 MPa m(1/2), respectively. (c) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.