Hugoniot Measurements of High Pressure Phase Stability of Titanium‐Silicon Carbide (Ti₃SiC₂) Available to Purchase

Hugoniot measurements of the high‐pressure phase stability of titanium‐silicon carbide (Ti₃SiC₂) were performed in this study. Ti₃SiC₂ is a unique ceramic having high stiffness, but low hardness. Time‐resolved measurements employing plate‐impact geometry were conducted on Ti₃SiC₂ samples in the pressure range of 50 to 120 GPa using the NIMS two‐stage light‐gas‐gun. Experiments performed in the lower pressure range followed the continuous pressure‐volume compressibility trend reported by Onodera, et al. in static high‐pressure experiments. At pressures around 80–120 GPa, deviation in pressure‐volume compressibility to a more compressed state was observed indicating evidence of a possible phase change. Streak camera records of the free surface velocity measured using the inclined mirror method also showed discontinuous slope, indicating a possible pressure‐induced phase transformation.