Modelling and Characterisation of Residual Stress of SiC-Ti(3)C(2)T(x) MXene Composites Sintered via Spark Plasma Sintering Method

This article presents an attempt to determine the effect of the MXene phase addition and its decomposition during sintering with the use of the spark plasma sintering method on mechanical properties and residual stress of silicon carbide based composites. For this purpose, the unreinforced silicon carbide sinter and the silicon carbide composite with the addition of 2 wt.% of Ti(3)C(2)T(x) were tested. The results showed a significant increase of fracture toughness and hardness for composite, respectively 36% and 13%. The numerical study involving this novel method of modelling shows the presence of a complex state of stress in the material, which is related to the anisotropic properties of graphitic carbon structures formed during sintering. An attempt to determine the actual values of residual stress in the tested materials using Raman spectroscopy was also made. These tests showed a good correlation with the constructed numerical model and confirmed the presence of a complex state of residual stress.