Densification mechanisms and mechanical properties of TiC ceramics prepared via oscillatory pressure sintering

Titanium carbide (TiC) ceramics were fabricated via oscillatory pressure sintering (OPS) at 1030–1230 °C, with sintering kinetics systematically analyzed through a high-temperature creep model. The analysis revealed an apparent activation energy of 375.60 kJ/mol under a stress exponent of n = 1, and identified temperature-dependent densification mechanisms: at 1030 °C, densification progressed from particle rearrangement to grain boundary sliding and dislocation glide-climb; at 1080 °C, grain boundary sliding and viscous flow/grain boundary diffusion dominated after initial rearrangement; at 1130 °C, dislocation glide-climb prevailed following particle rearrangement. The maximum densification rate occurred at 1130 °C. Optimal mechanical properties achieved at 1230 °C within the range of 1030 to 1230 °C included a Vickers hardness of 19.7 GPa, flexural strength of 723 MPa, and Young's modulus of 403 GPa. These findings elucidate the correlation between sintering temperature, microstructural evolution, and densification behavior during OPS, thereby providing meaningful insights for the efficient fabrication of TiC ceramics.