Synthesis and microstructure of layered-ternary Ti2AlC ceramic by high energy milling and hot pressing

Fully dense and single-phase Ti2AlC ceramic was successfully synthesized by a high energy milling and hot pressing using Ti, C and Al as starting materials. The effects of composition of the initial elemental powders and sintering temperatures on the purity and formation of Ti2AlC were examined. The formation mechanism for the single-phase Ti2AlC ceramics was investigated by XRD in details, which could be described as follows: the most of initial elements reacted to form TiC and Ti–Al intermetallics; the intermetallics and the residual Ti and Al transformed to TiAl phase; and finally the TiAl intermetallics and the TiC reacted to yield Ti2AlC.