Investigation into the compaction of nanopowders and micropowders of silicon carbide in high-pressure apparatus

The results of the investigation into the compaction (sintering) of silicon carbide nanopowders and micropowders in a DO-138 high-pressure apparatus are presented. Compaction modes for both types of materials are identical (a pressure of 3.5–4.0 GPa, a temperature of 1600—1700°C, and a holding time of 10 s). The influence of cladding of SiC nanopowders and micropowders with titanium and titanium nitride on the properties of compacts (cakes) formed under the same sintering modes is investigated. It is established that, when compacting the silicon carbide nanopowder, cakes differ in regards to higher density, hardness, and lower porosity compared with the samples made of finely dispersed technical silicon carbide. A higher activity of titanium relative to SiC makes it possible to chemically associate the grains of the latter due to the formation of intermediate layers of titanium carbide between them. The resulting ceramics possesses a higher density, hardness, and wear resistance. The wear resistance of synthesized composites based on nano-SiC is higher than for a polycrystalline material based on silicon carbide micropowder by a factor of 4.5.