The Effect of Adding TiO2 on Synthesis of Al4SiC4 powders

Abstract

Three powders of aluminum, silicon and graphite were mixed with the molar ratio corresponding to the chemical composition of Al4SiC4, and then a small amount of titanium oxide was added into the mixture. The mixtures were heated at 1973 K in argon, and the Al4SiC4 phase was obtained. Conversely, the two phases, Al4O4C and TiC, were detected when the increasing of additive amount of TiO2 was made, and the grain sizes of Al4SiC4 were refined from 10~20 μm to 1~5 μm at the same time. Further, the morphology of Al4SiC4 without addition of TiO2 is irregular shape, but changes into tabular structure after adding TiO2.