Orientation Dependence of High Temperature Compressive Behavior of Textured Ti<sub>3</sub>SiC<sub>2</sub>

In order to clarify the orientation dependent deformation behavior of the MAX phase ceramics, compressive deformation behavior was examined in a textured Ti3SiC2 (TSC) at a high temperature of 1200°C. Depending on the relationship between the texture and loading directions, both the deformation behavior and microstructure were strongly influenced, and the resultant basal slip, kink formation and delamination affected the compression behavior of the textured TSC. When the stress was loaded parallel or perpendicular to the basal plane (0TSC and 90TSC), the stress-strain (S-S) curves showed higher peak stresses followed by the reduction in the flow stress. When the stress was loaded 45° to the basal plane (45TSC), the S-S curve showed strain hardening after yielding, but did not show peak stress. Although the strength was higher both in 0TSC and 90TSC than in 45TSC, both 0TSC and 90TSC showed the formation of cracks and delamination, resulting to the large drop in the flow stress. In contrast to 0TSC and 90TSC, although 45TSC did not exhibit the peak stress, it exhibited work hardening due to the kink boundary formation, irrespective of the formation of delamination. It is reasonable to conclude from the deformation behavior and the deformed microstructures that for the TSC, the kink boundary plays an important role for attaining both deformability and strength.