Formation of M sub(5)Si sub(3) Type Si-Ti-Zr System Intermetallic Compounds by Pulse Electric Current Sintering with Self-Propagating High Temperature Synthesis

Pulse electric current sintering (PECS) is applied to synthesis M sub(5)Si sub(3) type Si-Ti-Zr system intermetallic compounds, Si sub(3)Ti sub(x)Zr( sub(5 -x)) x=0-5, directly from raw powders of silicon, titanium and zirconium. Almost full conversion to Si sub(3)Ti sub(x)Zr( sub(5 -x)) are achieved by PECS method with self-propagating high temperature synthesis (SHS) reaction. The adiabatic temperatures are susceptible to sintering behaviors such as vacuum pressure in chamber and displacement of pressure axis on the PECS process. The large quantities of gases are released in Zr-rich samples. The bulk shapes with almost dense samples are obtained at Ti-rich samples.