Highly textured TiN ceramic prepared by edge-free spark plasma sintering

Highly textured TiN ceramic was successfully prepared by edge-free spark plasma sintering (EFSPS) method at 1600°C using anisotropic Ti 2 AlN cylinder as preform. The phase and crystalline evolutions from anisotropic Ti 2 AlN to textured bulk TiN were revealed via changing the EFSPS temperature. The orientation degree of the as-fabricated TiN ceramic was evaluated by X-ray diffraction and electron backscattered diffraction. It was found that the lll planes of TiN grains were perpendicular to the SPS-loading direction and the Lotgering orientation factor on the top surface of bulk TiN was as high as f ( lll) = 0.88. Because of the highly textured microstructure, the obtained TiN ceramic exhibited anisotropic mechanical and physical properties.