Abstract:TiC-TiB
2 composites were produced by reaction sintering. The effects of carbon nanotubes addition on
the microstructure and mechanical properties of ceramic matrix composites were studied by X-ray diffractometry
(XRD), scanning electron microscopy(SEM), Electro-Probe Microanalyzer(EPMA)and high resolution scan‐
ning electron microscopy(HRSEM). The results show that the phases of the products are composed of TiC, TiB,
Ti
3B4, TiB2, large number of open and closed pores exists on the matrix simultaneously. Compared with the base mi‐
crostructure of matrix without CNTs addition, the grains of the cermets with CNTs addition are refined due to con‐
straining the grain growth. Meanwhile some CNTs exist among the coming out of bulk and pull them together. TiC
synthesized by CNTs and Ti connects into a network structure and increases the compressive strength, but it will
decrease when the content of CNTs is excessive.