We have developed a method for producing single-phase Cr2AlC and Ti2AlC MAX phases using mechanical activation in a planetary-ball mill, followed by heat treatment of the mechanically activated mixture in the temperature range 800–1150°C. The specific surface area of the Cr2AlC and Ti2AlC MAX phases approximately equaled 3 m2/g. An Al86Cr14 intermetallic phase emerged in grinding of the 2Cr–Al–C powder mixture. The brittle Al86Cr14 phase promoted better refinement of all components and gave rise to an X-ray amorphous mixture. Gradual heating of this mixture in the temperature range 800–1150°C produced a single-phase carbide: Cr2AlC MAX phase. In grinding of the 2Ti–Al–C powder mixture, a mechanically induced self-propagating synthesis (MSS) reaction occurred to form a mixture of the Ti2AlC MAX phase and titanium carbide TiC. The ratio between the amounts of the MAX phase and titanium carbide depended on the grinding conditions. The grinding rate was reduced to produce a 70 wt.% Ti2AlC and 30 wt.% TiC mixture. The MSS reaction does not take place in grinding of the 2Cr + Al + C mixture because the rule that △H/Cp (the ratio of the formation enthalpy to the specific heat) is to be more than 2000 K does not hold for this system. The significant plastic deformation of the titanium powder when ground in the presence of carbon and the thermodynamically favored formation of both Ti2AlC and titanium carbide (△H/Cp more than 2000 K) promote the MSS reaction. A virtually single-phase powder, 95 wt.% Ti2AlC MAX phase, with impurities of TiC and AlTi intermetallic was produced by heating a mechanically activated mixture of titanium, titanium hydride, aluminum, and thermally expanded graphite. Titanium hydride in this mixture prevents the Ti + C = TiC MSS reaction. Titanium hydride reduces the MSS reaction rate, thus inhibiting the formation of titanium carbide and promoting a greater amount of the Ti2AlC MAX phase.
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V.I. Ivchenko is deceased
Translated from Poroshkova Metallurgiya, Vol. 60, Nos. 5–6 (539), pp. 3–13, 2021.
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Solonin, Y., Savyak, M., Vasilkivska, M. et al. High-Energy Mechanical Grinding to Produce Cr2AlC and Ti2AlC Max Phases. Powder Metall Met Ceram 60, 259–267 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11106-021-00236-y
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11106-021-00236-y