The effects of SiC content on the phase composition, microstructure, sintering performance, mechanical and electricalproperties of the carbon/ceramic conductive composites were investigated. The results show that when SiC content increasesfrom 1 wt% to 3 wt%, lamellar graphite structure can be seen in the microstructure of the composites, and the porosity andwater absorption increases gradually. With further increase of SiC content to 6 wt% and 9 wt%, lamellar graphite disappears,and granular SiC crystals fill in the ceramic phase, thus increasing the densification degree of the composites. When SiCcontent is in the range of 1 wt% to 3 wt%, the shrinkage rate decreases sharply while the weight loss decreases a little. As SiCcontent increases from 3 wt% to 9 wt%, both the shrinkage rate and weight loss basically keep unchanged. With the increaseof SiC content, the bending strength of the composites first decreases and then increases, and finally reaches the peak value at9 wt% SiC. However, the resistivity presents an opposite variation trend, and the conductivity is best as SiC content is 9 wt%.

Keywords: Carbon/ceramic conductive composites, SiC content, Microstructure, properties