High-Temperature Synthesis of Cast Materials Based on the MAX Phase Cr2AlC Using CaCrO4 + Al + C Mixtures

Abstract

Experimental data are presented on the high-temperature synthesis of cast composite materials in the Cr–Al–C system with different relative amounts of the MAX phase Cr2AlC and chromium carbides and aluminides. The experiments were carried out in multipurpose self-propagating high-temperature synthesis (SHS) reactors at an argon pressure p = 5 MPa. The starting mixtures consisted of calcium chromate (CaCrO4), aluminum (ASD-1), and carbon powders. It has been shown that varying the percentage of carbon in the starting mixture may have a significant effect on the synthesis process and the phase composition and microstructure of the final products. It has been found that, in the case of the stoichiometric starting mixture composition, the synthesis yields cast composite materials consisting predominantly of the MAX phase Cr2AlC and containing the lower chromium carbide Cr7C3 and the chromium aluminide Cr5Al8. The addition of excess (superstoichiometric) carbon to the starting mixture leads to an increase in the percentage of the MAX phase Cr2AlC in the synthesis product, disappearance of the chromium aluminide Cr5Al8, and the formation of the higher chromium carbide Cr3C2 instead of the lower carbide. The final synthesis products have been characterized by X-ray diffraction and local microstructural analysis. The structure and composition of the synthesis products obtained under various conditions have been determined.