In-Situ Hot-Pressing Synthesis and Characterization of Highly Pure Ti_3SiC_2 Bulk

A polycrystalline bulk Ti_3SiC_2 sample,with 97% purity,98.45% relative density,5～10 μm grain size,was prepared by reactively hot-pressing a mixture of Ti,Al and graphite powders,using Al as an additive,at 1 450 ℃ and 25 MPa for 2 h.The sample showed a bending strength of 407 MPa,room resistivity of 0.22×10~(-6) Ω·m and Vickers hardness of 3.97 GPa.In comparison with the sample prepared by Barsoum Ei-Raghy at 1 600 ℃ and 40 MPa for 4 h,the present sample showed a lower bending strength while the essentially identical purity,resistivity and hardness.