Reaction mechanism for the synthesis of Ti₃AlC₂ through an intermediate carbide of Ti₃AlC from elemental Ti, Al, and C powder mixture

Abstract

A layered ternary carbide Ti₃AlC₂ was synthesized by pressureless calcining process from the mixture of titanium, aluminum and graphite powders. Almost single-phase Ti₃AlC₂ was obtained after calcining at 1400°C for 4 h. The microstructural evolution during the formation of Ti₃AlC₂ was examined at the temperature from 900°C to 1400°C. Ti₃AlC₂ was formed through an intermediate carbide of Ti₃AlC, which was seldom reported in previous literatures. Based on the results of X-ray diffraction (XRD) and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), a possible reaction mechanism was proposed to explain the formation of Ti₃AlC₂.