Single-phase, nearly fully dense ternary compound Ti 3 SiC 2 was successfully synthesized by pulse discharge sintering (PDS) Ti/Si/TiC powder mixture, where coarse Ti powder (−0.15mm) was used, at 1350–1400°C for a short time of 20min. Ti 3 SiC 2 was found to form through reaction among intermediate phases of Ti 5 Si 3 , TiSi 2 and the starting powders. Evidence of Ti–Si liquid reaction above Ti–Ti 5 Si 3 eutectic temperature was revealed by studying the shrinkage displacement curve, and this liquid reaction is believed to have greatly assisted the ternary phase synthesis reaction as well as densification.