Thermal conductivity and thermal shock resistance of TiB2-basedUHTCs enhanced by graphite platelets

TiB2-SiC-C and TiB2-TiC-C heteromodulus ceramics were sintered by reactive hot pressing of TiC-B4C-Si TiC-B4C precursors at 1830 °C 30 MPa. Sintering time the maximum temperature was between 2 8 min. The reactions in green body create submicron (100–400 nm) TiB2 crystals inside silicon carbide grains as well BxSiyCz nanofibers, which nucleate near SiC surfaces. Low hardness graphite platelets are formed within hard matrix during in-situ exothermic reaction. “Soft-hard” grain combination produces substantially improved fracture toughness (up to 9 MPa m1/2). materials also demonstrate high thermal conductivity 120 W/m∙K) shock resistance. crack growth is arrested platelets.