Novel synthesis of Ti2SC powder using FeS2 as a sulphur source

Abstract

AbstractA novel method is presented for the synthesis of Ti2SC powder by heating FeS2/Ti/TiC mixtures. The phase evolution of Ti2SC was explored in detail with X-ray diffraction, thermo-gravimetry/differential scanning calorimetry, and scanning electron microscopy analysis. It was found that FeS2 began to decompose into activated FeS and released molecular state sulphur at around 500 °C. Subsequently, FeS and Ti underwent a reaction that formed Fe and TiS at 700 °C. Finally, the reaction of both TiS and TiC to form a Ti2SC phase could be triggered at 900 °C. It was confirmed that the Ti2SC phase was obtained with only trace impurity of TiC remaining after acid treatment by microwave hybrid heating of 1.1FeS2/2Ti/2TiC mixtures at 1 300 °C for 3 min. The fine powder with a mean diameter of approximately 1 μm was mainly composed of quasi-spherical particles. Compared to the conventional method, Ti2SC powder was synthesised at a temperature some 300 °C lower and required only 10 % of the heating time.