Abstract
Plate-like Ti3AlC2 powder was prepared by reaction heating of Ti, Al, and carbon. Textured dense polycrystalline Ti3AlC2 ceramics was fabricated by spark plasma sintering. The relative density was found to be higher than 99% at 1573K. Lotgering orientation factor was determined as f(00l) = 0.59. Microstructural observation of damages around 49N indentations in textured Ti3AlC2 was presented. On the surface parallel to the pressing direction, submicron-scale energy-dissipating mechanisms have been identified from scanning electron micrographs of areas in the corner of the indentation. Conversely, on the surface perpendicular to the pressing direction, pileups caused by kinkband formation were observed.
