A novel stiff (TiC0.3N0.7) network toughened Si3N4 composites

作     者：Nie, Baokuo Ren, Zhongkan Zhang, Lizhi Tang, Huaguo Yu, Yuan Wang, Lujie Li, Tongyang Qiao, Zhuhui 

作者机构：State Key Laboratory of Solid Lubrication Lanzhou Institute of Chemical Physics Chinese Academy of Sciences Lanzhou730000 China Center of Materials Science and Optoelectronics Engineering University of Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing100039 China Shandong Laboratory of Yantai Advanced Materials and Green Manufacture Yantai264006 China Yantai Zhongke Research Institute of Advanced Materials and Green Chemical Engineering Yantai264006 China Qingdao Center of Resource Chemistry & New Materials Qingdao266100 China 

出 版 物：《Ceramics International》 (Ceram Int)

年 卷 期：2025年

核心收录：

学科分类：0817[工学-化学工程与技术] 08[工学] 0805[工学-材料科学与工程（可授工学、理学学位）] 080502[工学-材料学] 

基　　金：This work was supported by the Shandong Provincial Natural Science Foundation (ZR2020ZD29  ZR2021JQ20) and the program of Shandong Laboratory (SYS202204  2024CXPT035)  and the Taishan Scholars Program of Shandong Province 

主　　题：Fracture toughness 

摘      要：In composites, cracks propagation could be blocked by the second phase with higher modulus. Constructing a continuous network of the stiffer phase to block and deflect the cracks is anticipated to enhance fracture toughness. Herein, we prepared a series of 3D network-structured Si3N4-TiC0.3N0.7 ceramic composites by suspension-coating TiC particles (40 nm) on Si3N4 microspheres (75 μm). Contrary to conventional strong/weak interface (nacre‐like) models, constructing a strong/stronger interface with modulus gradients may enhance the fracture resistance and load-bearing capability of the composites. The optimized fracture toughness of 10.04 MPa m1/2 and significantly rising R-curve (SENB method) both demonstrate the excellent toughening effect of TiC0.3N0.7 networks. The mechanical properties and damage tolerance of sintered composites were evaluated as a function of TiC content. Two distinct crack propagation modes were identified through analysis of surface cracks and fracture morphology. © 2025