Influence of Synthesis Parameters on Density and Phase Composition of Materials Based on Ti3SiC2.

Various mixtures of initial Ti/Si/C, Ti/Si/TiC, Ti/SiC/C, Ti/SiC/TiC, Ti/TiSi2/TiC, and TiH2/SiC/C powders were used to synthesize Ti3SiC2 by sintering at 1300 and 1400°C for 1 – 5 h. Ti/Si/TiC and Ti/TiSi2/TiC powders were best for synthesizing Ti3SiC2. The amount of synthesized Ti3SiC2 reached 98.3 and 90.3 vol% at a sintering temperature of 1400°C for 1 h. Ti3SiC2 was synthesized and grew in the form of elongated grains. The influence of the sintering time and temperature on formation of the MAX-phase Ti3SiC2 from the initial Ti/Si/C powders was determined. TiC and a small amount of SiC were always present as intermediate phases in the final products. An excess of Si contributed to the highest formation of Ti3SiC2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]