A Novel TiB2-SiC Composite Doped with Diamond Nanoparticles: Densification, Microstructure, and Thermal Properties

This study has investigated the densification behavior, microstructure, phase formation and thermal properties of a novel TiB2-SiC composite doped with 2 wt.% diamond (D) nanoparticles. Spark plasma sintering (SPS) has been used to fabricate the mentioned nanocomposite. The selected SPS temperature, time and pressure were 1800 degrees C, 7 min and 40 MPa, respectively. The TiB2-SiC-D composite showed higher relative density (similar to 96%) than the TiB2-SiC sample (similar to 95.5%). The SEM images and XRD pattern showed unremarkable decomposition of diamond nanoparticles. Higher thermal diffusivity and thermal conductivity were obtained by adding diamond nanoparticles measured by laser flash method and further calculation, respectively. Greater conductivity of TiB2-SiC-D nanocomposite could be related to the higher degrees of densification and isotropic thermal behavior of diamond nanoparticles.