MoSi2–Al2O3 electroconductive ceramic composites

Al₂O₃–MoSi₂ composites with MoSi₂ volume fractions between 16 and 40% were fabricated from commercial ceramic Al₂O₃ and intermetallic MoSi₂ powders by granulation, cold isostatic pressing and vacuum-sintering. The addition of MoSi₂ had only a slight influence on the densification of the composites, with sintered densities of 98% for samples with 16 vol.% MoSi₂ and 94% for samples with 40 vol.% MoSi₂. Composites with MoSi₂ contents of 20 vol.% and higher were electroconductive due to the formation of a three-dimensional percolating network of the conductive MoSi₂ phase.