Synthesis of nano-layered Ti3SiC2 MAX phase through reactive melt infiltration (RMI): Metallurgical and thermodynamical parameters

Abstract

Ti3SiC2 bulks were synthesized through reactive melt infiltration (RMI) method. To investigate the metallurgical and thermodynamical parameters during RMI method, the powders with different chemical compositions were pelleted by cold pressing. Then the melt infiltration process was carried out at 1500 °C for 1 h under 10−4 torr. The phase analysis, morphological observations and elemental analysis of different samples were performed by XRD, FE-SEM and EDS, respectively. The density, hardness and Young's modulus of the samples with optimum purity in each step were also measured. Thermodynamical analysis of all possible reactions was performed during RMI process. It was found that the preform composition of 3TiC/0.3Si was optimum. Among the various amounts of Si ingot (used during melt infiltration process), the amount of Si with 3 times of the stoichiometric value had the best results. Besides, addition of small amount of Si to the preform composition had a positive effect on the purity of Ti3SiC2. Finally, the sample with 93% Ti3SiC2 MAX phase was synthesized through RMI method.