Ternary Ceramics Research Articles

Deciphering the relationships among phase boundary, domain structure, and excellent electrical properties of ternary Bi0.5Na0.5TiO3-Bi0.2Sr0.7TiO3-NaNbO3 ferroelectrics

Bi0.5Na0.5TiO3-based ferroelectric ceramics have broad application prospects due to their excellent electrical properties and are considered to be one of the most promising functional materials to supersede lead-based materials. Here, 0.9Bi0.5Na0.5TiO3-0.1Bi0.2Sr0.7TiO3-xNaNbO3 (BNT-BST-xNN) ternary lead-free ferroelectric ceramics were prepared, and the origin of their excellent dielectric properties was investigated in terms of phase boundary and domain structure. The introduction of NN led to a phase transition from the ferroelectric rhombohedral phase (R3c) to the relaxor tetragonal phase (P4bm), and the two phases coexisted in the BNT-BST-xNN ternary solid solution with x ranging from 0.06 to 0.2. Meanwhile, the macroscopic domain of BNT-BST was destroyed and replaced by highly active polar nano-regions (PNRs) of the P4bm phase, leading to an increase in local structural disorder and enhanced relaxor behavior. A dielectric constant (εr) of ∼1765 (150 °C) with Δε/ε150 °C less than 15 % over a broad range from 80 to 328 °C was achieved in the BNT-BST-0.15NN, and an excellent energy storage property (Wrec = 3.3 J/cm3) was obtained under a low electric field (190 kV/cm). More specifically, the relationship among phase boundary, domain structure, and excellent electrical properties was achieved based on Rietveld refinements and the dielectric/ferroelectric characterizations. This work provides a deep insight into the phase evolution and its impact on the electrical properties of the BNT-based relaxor ferroelectrics.

A high-power piezoelectric ceramic with great electrical properties and temperature stability

Lead-based Pb(Zr, Ti)O3 ceramics have been widely used in high-power piezoelectric applications, but its stable operation at high temperature is still a grand challenge. In this work, the third element Pb(Mn1/3Sb2/3)O3 (PMS) was incorporated into Pb(Zr0.48Ti0.52)O3 (PZT) to design the xPb(Mn1/3Sb2/3)O3-(1-x)Pb(Zr0.48Ti0.52)O3 (PMS-PZT) ternary ceramics through the phase diagram. The ceramics with morphotropic phase boundary (MPB) structure and uniform grain size were fabricated successfully. The dielectric, ferroelectric and piezoelectric properties of the ceramics were probed respectively. Excellent piezoelectric properties (Qm=1595, kp=0.61, d33=318pC/N, tanδ=0.60 %, Tc=300℃) were obtained in 0.075PMS-0.925PZT ceramic, which can be attributed to its MPB structure and the pinning effect of defect dipoles on domain rotation. Moreover, the T-phase dominated 0.075PMS-0.925PZT ceramic obtains great temperature stability with a low variation of resonant frequency below 2.2 % and no variation of non-resonant frequency in the temperature range from 25°C to 175°C. These results make the ceramic as a good candidate for piezoelectric frequency applications that require constant performance within a wide temperature range.

Microstructure and wet-oxygen corrosion behaviors of in-suit grown Y3Si2C2 modified SiCf/SiC composites

Y3Si2C2 ternary ceramics were in-situ grown in SiCf/SiC composites via molten-salt method for the first time, and the microstructure and wet-oxygen corrosion behavior at 1400 ℃ for the SiCf/SiC-Y3Si2C2 composite are investigated. Results indicated that the Y3Si2C2 are successfully in-situ grown and uniformly dispersed in the matrix. Compared to the unmodified SiCf/SiC, the SiCf/SiC-Y3Si2C2 exhibits a reduction in flexural strength to 200.39 MPa (SiCf/SiC is of 335.89 MPa), while it demonstrates significant enhancement in wet-oxygen corrosion resistance with a strength retention rate of 89.3 % (SiCf/SiC is of 25.8 %) under conditions of wet-oxygen corrosion environment at 1400 ℃.

Dielectric properties of disordered A6B2O17 (A = Zr; B = Nb, Ta) phases

AbstractWe report on the structure and dielectric properties of ternary A6B2O17 (A = Zr; B = Nb, Ta) thin films and ceramics. Thin films are produced via sputter deposition from dense, phase‐homogenous bulk ceramic targets, which are synthesized through a reactive sintering process at 1500°C. Crystal structure, microstructure, chemistry, and dielectric properties are characterized by X‐ray diffraction and reflectivity, atomic force microscopy, X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and capacitance analysis, respectively. We observe relative permittivities approaching 60 and loss tangents <1 × 10−2 across the 103–105 Hz frequency range in the Zr6Nb2O17 and Zr6Ta2O17 phases. These observations create an opportunity space for this novel class of disordered oxide electroceramics.

Doping effects and role conversion of CeO2 in 0.3PZN–0.7PZT ternary piezoelectric ceramics with enhanced electrical properties

In this work, the rare-earth doped ternary lead zirconate titanate ceramics with chemical formula of [0.3Pb(Zn1/3Nb2/3)O3–0.7Pb(Zr0.52Ti0.48)O3] + x wt% CeO2 (x=0–0.5, abbreviated as 0.3PZN–0.7PZT–xCe) were synthesized by a conventional solid-state reaction route, specific attentions was focused on the effects of CeO2 dopants on the structures and electrical properties of the 0.3PZN–0.7PZT ceramics, revealing the role conversion of CeO2 dopants with its doping amount (x). When less CeO2 (x≤0.2) is introduced into 0.3PZN–0.7PZT, the prepared ceramics are identified as the coexistence of rhombohedral and tetragonal phases, also involved with an increased grain size and a reduced atomic ratio of Pb/(Zr+Ti+Zn+Nb). The increased remanent polarization (Pr) and deceased coercive filed (Ec), as well as improved dielectric permittivity (εr) and piezoelectric coefficient (d33) demonstrate the donor substitution of Ce3+ for Pb2+ at the A-site of perovskite lattice. Conversely, the introduction of excessive CeO2 (x>0.2) causes a reversal evolution in the electrical properties of ceramics, suggesting that some of the introduced cerium element tends to become Ce4+, which equivalently substitutes for Zr4+ at the B-site. Additionally, the diffused phase transition (DPT) behaviors of the 0.3PZN–0.7PZT–xCe ceramics were investigated by the modified Curie–Weiss Law. The sample with x=0.2 shows reduced DPT character and optimized electrical properties, including TC=297 °C, εr=1400, d33=480 pC/N, tanδ=1.6%, kp=65%, d33×g33=16.32×10–12 m2/N, Pr=38.3 μC/cm2 and Ec=1.02 kV/mm. These enhanced electrical properties not only are contributed by the donor substitution effect of Ce3+, but also benefit from the optimized morphotropic phase boundary that is close to the tetragonal-rich side.

Fe3O4-CuO-MgNb2O6 Ternary Ceramics with Heterogeneous Interfaces for Efficient Microwave Absorption

Fe3O4-CuO-MgNb2O6 Ternary Ceramics with Heterogeneous Interfaces for Efficient Microwave Absorption

LiNbO3-induced phase structure evolution and improved piezoelectric properties in BiFeO3–BaTiO3 ceramics

Eco-friendly (0.73-x)Bi1.05FeO3-xLiNbO3-0.27BaTiO3 ternary ceramics were designed and prepared via a solid-state sintering route. Based on the X-ray diffraction results and Rietveld refinement, it was found that the structure of the ceramics transformed from rhombohedral to tetragonal symmetry with the addition of LiNbO3, and at x = 0.003, there existed a morphotropic phase boundary separating the two phases. Near the phase boundary, the largest values were achieved for the piezoelectric constant d33 and planar electromechanical coupling coefficient kp, being 180 pC/N and 0.27, respectively. Due to the addition of LiNbO3, the grain size tended to become smaller. Additionally, the ceramics were transitioned from normal to relaxor ferroelectrics with increasing x. Despite the fact that the LiNbO3 addition would result in a gradual decrease of Curie temperature, a relatively high Curie temperature (535 °C) was still maintained at x = 0.003, the phase boundary composition, which also showed good temperature stability of piezoelectric properties. These experimental results can provide a reference for the practical applications of high-temperature lead-free ceramics.

Structural phase coexistence enhances the energy storage density of (Bi0.5Na0.5)0.8Ba0.2Ti1-ySnyO3 lead-free ceramics

In the present study, BaSnO3 was introduced into polycrystalline NBT-BT ferroelectric ceramics and conducted a comprehensive investigation into the structural, dielectric, ferroelectric, and energy storage characteristics of the (Bi0.5Na0.5)0.8Ba0.2Ti1-ySnyO3 (BNBTS) ceramics. The coexistence of structural phases P4mm and Amm2 was observed through Rietveld refinement and also confirmed by Raman analysis. The formation energy decreases with an increase in substitution concentration favouring the formation of the orthorhombic phase. The SEM analysis revealed a denser microstructure characterised by smaller grain sizes, which favourably enhances energy storage density. Furthermore, Raman spectroscopic analysis unveiled a softening of Ti–O bonds, indicating the emergence of macroscopic relaxor behaviour. Dielectric studies provided evidence of a transition from ferroelectric to relaxor behaviour, an observation further confirmed by P-E loop measurements. This transition can be linked to the partial substitution of Sn4+ ions for Ti4+ ions, disrupting the ferroelectric long-range order within the matrix phase. Notably, the polarization-electric field (P-E) loop of BNBTS2 ceramics exhibited a substantial value of polarization (Ps) 30 μC/cm2 with a reduced value of remnant polarization (Pr) 2.29 μC/cm2. These characteristics contributed to the achievement of higher energy recovery (Wrec) and lower energy loss (Wloss) values, measuring 1.184 J/cm3 and 0.142 J/cm3, respectively, with a notable efficiency of 88.8%. Consequently, the system of ternary ceramics demonstrates promise as a potential option for energy storage ceramics among NBT-BT-based materials.

Synthesis and electromagnetic wave properties of Ti2.7M0.1T0.2AlC2 (M = Fe, Ni, T = Zr, Mo, W, Ta) powder

Presently, there is a growing interest in exploring materials for absorbing electromagnetic waves (EMW). MAX materials stand out as potential absorbers. However, limited attention has been given to understanding the impact of doping on their intrinsic properties. This study innovatively introduces magnetic metallic elements (Fe, Ni) and transition metallic elements (Mo, Zr, W, Ta) simultaneously into the M site of Ti3AlC2, forming novel ternary MAX phase ceramics. Phase and microstructural analyses indicate the successful preparation of a single solid solution with uniformly distributed elements. Notably, Ti2.7Fe0.1Mo0.2AlC2 exhibits the lowest reflection loss at − 33.9 dB. Ti2.7Ni0.1Ta0.2AlC2 demonstrates the widest absorption bandwidth of 5.10 GHz. Importantly, the matching thicknesses for Ti2.7Fe0.1Mo0.2AlC2 and Ti2.7Ni0.1Ta0.2AlC2 are 2.5 mm and 1.97 mm, respectively. This indicates that the material achieves excellent microwave absorption performance while maintaining a lightweight and thin structure, making it suitable for various specific requirements. We systematically investigated the influence of different doping elements on the microwave absorption properties of Ti3AlC2, with a particular emphasis on the simultaneous introduction of magnetic metallic and transition metallic elements. This dual incorporation has significantly enhanced both dielectric and magnetic losses, offering crucial insights for the design of future innovative microwave absorption materials.

Luminescent Properties of (Ca7ZrAl6O18-Ca3Al2O6-CaZrO3):Eu3+ Composite Ceramics and Tracing in the Hydration Process

In this work, solid-state reaction sintering was used to fabricate Ca7ZrAl6O18-Ca3Al2O6-CaZrO3:Eu3+ ternary composite ceramics and cements. The structural, microstructural, and spectroscopic properties of the ceramics with different Eu2O3 content were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), and spectrofluorimetry, respectively. The XRD patterns analyzed with Rietveld refinement confirm the presence of the orthorhombic phase of Ca7ZrAl6O18 and the cubic phase of Ca3Al2O6 in all the samples, indicating that doping of Eu3+ slightly changes the crystalline structure of both aluminate phosphors. EDS analysis revealed that the Eu doping element was strongly concentrated to the two phases, i.e., Ca7ZrAl6O18 and Ca3Al2O6, with the Eu concentrations of 8.45 wt.% and 8.26 wt.%, respectively. The luminescent properties of the ceramics doped with different Eu3+ ion concentrations were investigated by excitation and emission spectroscopy at room temperature. These results were compiled using a laser with an optical parametric oscillator (OPO) system. The obtained spectra indicated changes in the luminescence intensity and shape occurring with phase composition and Eu2O3 concentration. The emission spectra of the ceramics exhibit a strong dependence on the excitation wavelength in the range from 210 to 300 nm, and invariably, five peaks were assigned to the 5D0 → 7FJ (J = 0, 1, 2, 3, 4) transitions of Eu3+. The luminescence spectroscopy was then used to trace the early and long-term hydration behavior of cements. Thus, luminescence spectroscopy may provide a new tool for non-destructive testing of cement-based structures.

Superior temperature stability of electromechanical properties and resonant frequency in PYN-PZT piezoelectric ceramics

In this study, the Pb(Yb1/2Nb1/2)O3 (PYN) relaxor with high Curie temperature (TC ∼300 °C) was incorporated into PbZrO3-PbTiO3 (PZ-PT) ceramics to form 0.1PYN-(1-x)PZ-xPT ternary ceramics, and their phase compositions were systematically investigated, providing the more detailed phase diagrams, dielectric, piezoelectric, and ferroelectric properties. Excellent piezoelectric performance (d33 ∼ 450 pC/N, d33* ∼714 pm/V), with high coercive field (EC ∼17.5 kV/cm) and TC (∼398 °C) were simultaneously achieved in the 0.1PYN-0.41PZ-0.49PT composition near the morphotropic phase boundary (MPB). The value of d33 × EC, which exhibits higher than commercial PZT ceramics, indicates its suitability for high-field excitation devices. Additionally, the temperature stability of the resonant frequency (fr) is qualitatively studied by analyzing the main factors influencing fr from a theoretical perspective. Superior stability is achieved in the 0.1PYN-0.38PZ-0.52PT composition (TC ∼ 405 °C) with tetragonal phase, and the temperature coefficient of resonant frequency (Δfr /fr25 °C) remains within 0.5% up to 300 °C, far outperformance than previous reports.

Phase structure, dielectric and energy storage properties of Na0.5Bi0.5TiO3-BaTiO3 ceramics with Bi(Mg2/3Nb1/3)O3 modification

Na0.5Bi0.5TiO3 (NBT)-based ceramics are promising lead-free candidates for energy-storage applications owing to their individual crystal structure and phase transition information. However, the high coercive field (EC) and large remnant polarization (Pr) are detrimental for practical applications. In this work, the composition-dependent phase structure, micromorphology, dielectric and energy storage properties of (1-x)(0.94Na0.5Bi0.5TiO3-0.06BaTiO3)-xBi(Mg2/3Nb1/3)O3 (NBBT-100xBMN, x = 0.18, 0.20, 0.22 and 0.25) ternary ceramics were hereby investigated. The addition of BMN facilitates the phase transformation from rhombohedral (R3c) to tetragonal (P4bm), which is beneficial for the enhancement of relaxation behavior, and meanwhile impels the grain growth. Combined with the influence of grain size on breakdown field strength, an optimal recoverable energy storage density (Wrec) of 1.88 J/cm3 with a high energy storage efficiency (η) of 82.15% was achieved in the NBBT-20BMN ceramic composition under the dielectric breakdown strength (DBS) of 150 kV/cm, accompanied by the excellent temperature stability from room temperature to 200 °C. All these manifest that the NBBT-20BMN ceramics have an attractive application prospect in the energy storage field.

Broad-high operating temperature range and enhanced energy storage performances in lead-free ferroelectrics

The immense potential of lead-free dielectric capacitors in advanced electronic components and cutting-edge pulsed power systems has driven enormous investigations and evolutions heretofore. One of the significant challenges in lead-free dielectric ceramics for energy-storage applications is to optimize their comprehensive characteristics synergistically. Herein, guided by phase-field simulations along with rational composition-structure design, we conceive and fabricate lead-free Bi0.5Na0.5TiO3-Bi0.5K0.5TiO3-Sr(Sc0.5Nb0.5)O3 ternary solid-solution ceramics to establish an equitable system considering energy-storage performance, working temperature performance, and structural evolution. A giant Wrec of 9.22 J cm−3 and an ultra-high ƞ ~ 96.3% are realized in the BNKT-20SSN ceramic by the adopted repeated rolling processing method. The state-of-the-art temperature (Wrec ≈ 8.46 ± 0.35 J cm−3, ƞ ≈ 96.4 ± 1.4%, 25–160 °C) and frequency stability performances at 500 kV cm−1 are simultaneously achieved. This work demonstrates remarkable advances in the overall energy storage performance of lead-free bulk ceramics and inspires further attempts to achieve high-temperature energy storage properties.

Improved piezoelectricity of lead-based PNN-PIN-PT ternary ceramics via polymorphic nanodomain modulation

Improved piezoelectricity of lead-based PNN-PIN-PT ternary ceramics via polymorphic nanodomain modulation

Discovery of new MAX-phase-like layered ternary carbide V8P6C: Crystal structure, thermal expansion, and elastic properties

Due to the laminated structure, MAX phases and MAX-phase-like compounds possess outstanding damage tolerance capability with good thermal/electrical conductivity and other charming functional properties, showing a bright future for structural-functional uses. Here, a new MAX-phase-like ternary carbide V8P6C with layered characteristics was discovered. Contrary to the alternate stacking of hexagonal-arranged M/A/X atom layers in MAX phases, V8P6C has a layered structure formed by a repeated stacking of the slabs consisting of V6C-octahedrons and VP6-distorted-octahedrons in three-atomic layers thick. The thermal expansion anisotropy was revealed, with the thermal expansion coefficients (TECs) along a-axis, c-axis, and the average value, equal to αa=8.55(5) μK−1, αc=10.23(5) μK−1, and αL=9.14(5) μK−1, respectively. The dilation along the c-axis was mainly dominated by out-plane V-P bonds between layered slabs. According to the pressure-dependent lattice parameters, the polycrystalline bulk modulus (B0 = 185(9) GPa) and high compressibility anisotropy factor (Ba/Bc = 1.64) was found. Meanwhile, the second-order elastic constants were calculated, and the elastic moduli, E=303 GPa, B=198 GPa, G=122 GPa, and ν = 0.246, were obtained. And the weak connection between layer slabs by out-plane V1-P bond was revealed by the bond stiffness model, with a bond stiffness close to the M-A bond in MAX phases. Furthermore, good damage tolerance capability was predicted according to Paugh's ratio (G/B=0.616) and Cauchy pressure (Pa = 0 GPa, Pc = -7.5 GPa), even better than those of typical MAX phases. The discovery of V8P6C provides a new member of MAX-phase-like damage-tolerant ceramic with relatively low density, moderate thermal expansion, and anisotropic compressibility, and the unique layered structure is inspiring for exploring new layered ternary ceramics.

Comprehensive optimization of piezoelectric coefficient and depolarization temperature in Mn-doped Bi0.5Na0.5TiO3-Bi0.5K0.5TiO3-BaTiO3 lead-free piezoceramics

Lead-free Bi0.5Na0.5TiO3 (BNT) piezoelectric ceramics have the advantages of large coercive fields and high Curie temperatures. But the improvement of piezoelectric coefficient (d33) is usually accompanied by a huge sacrifice of depolarization temperature (Td). In this work, a well-balanced performance of d33 and Td is achieved in MnO2-doped 0.79(Bi0.5Na0.5TiO3)-0.14(Bi0.5K0.5TiO3)-0.07BaTiO3 ternary ceramics. The incorporation of 0.25 mol% MnO2 enhances the d33 by more than 40%, while Td remains almost unchanged (i.e., d33=181 pC/N, Td=184 °C). X-ray diffraction (XRD) shows that an appropriate fraction of the small axis-ratio ferroelectric phase (pseudo-cubic, Pc) coexists with the long-range ferroelectric phase (tetragonal, T) under this MnO2 doping. Piezoelectric force microscopy (PFM) has revealed a special domain configuration, namely large striped and layered macro domains embedded with small nanodomains. This study provides a distinctive avenue to design BNT-based piezoelectric ceramics with high piezoelectric performance and temperature stability.

Excellent temperature stability of strain in PZ-PT-BNT ternary ceramics

Lead-based Pb(Zr, Ti)O3 ceramics have been widely applied in piezoelectric actuators, and yet high temperature stability and large strain have been pursued for further application. In this work, a novel PbZrO3–PbTiO3-(Bi0.5Na0.5)TiO3 (PZ-PT-BNT) piezoelectric ceramic is designed and prepared by solid-state route. It is found that the introduction of BNT constituent enhances the relaxation behavior of PZ-PT ceramic, inhibits the abrupt change in dielectric properties near Curie temperature, and increases the proportion of tetragonal phase with high temperature stability. Meanwhile, the patterns of electric domains are intentionally modified by adjusting composition of PZ-PT-BNT. Short and broad electric domains in PZ-PT-0.03BNT ceramic are observed by piezoresponse force microscopy, which are insensitive to temperature and have faster response under electric field, contributing to strain characteristics. As a result, through integrating phase structure and electric domain configuration, a strain of 0.21% and excellent temperature stability where the variation of strain is less than 8% in the temperature range of 25–250 °C are achieved in PZ-PT-0.03BNT ceramic. The findings provide an effective strategy for improving the strain stability of PZ-PT-based piezoelectric ceramics, and demonstrate that PZ-PT-BNT ceramics have potential application prospects in high-temperature piezoelectric actuators.

High electric field-induced strain properties in La-doped Pb(In1/2Nb1/2)O3–PbZrO3–PbTiO3 relaxor ferroelectric ceramics

Piezoelectric ceramics with high strain response and low hysteresis are highly in demand for high-performance actuator applications. Unfortunately, the trade-off relationship between large field-induced strain and low hysteresis in piezoelectric ceramics is a key challenge for designing high-performance piezoelectric actuators. Herein, ymol%La-doped 0.10 Pb(In1/2Nb1/2)O3-xPbZrO3-(0.90–x)PbTiO3 [0.10PIN-xPZ-(0.90-x)PT: ymol%La] ternary relaxor ferroelectric ceramics were prepared by conventional solid-state reaction technique. Pb(In1/2Nb1/2)O3 (PIN) as a relaxor end member was introduced into (Pb,La) (Zr,Ti)O3 (PLZT) system to improve relaxor characteristics and strain properties. A giant strain of 0.23% was obtained in 0.10PIN-0.59PZ-0.31 PT: 8mol%La ceramic at the electric field of 20 kV/cm, with a high piezoelectric d33* of 1150 pm/V and low hysteresis Hy of 6.4%, exhibiting a potential application in high-performance piezoelectric actuators. Furthermore, the effects of La ion doping and components on the ferroelectric, dielectric and electric field-induced strain properties were investigated, and provides a new way for improve the strain properties of piezoelectric materials.

Superior piezoelectric performance with high operating temperature in bismuth ferrite-based ternary ceramics

Due to the thermal depolarization effect, adequate piezoelectric performance with high operating temperature is regarded to be challenging to accomplish concurrently in piezoceramics for applications in specific piezoelectric devices. In this work, we synthesized (0.8−x)BiFeO3-xPbTiO3–0.2Ba(Zr0.25Ti0.75)O3 (abbreviated as BFO-xPT-BZT) ternary solid solutions with 0.15 ≤ x ≤ 0.30 by conventional solid-state reaction method. The MPB composition with a coexisting state of rhombohedral-tetragonal phases exhibits enhanced electromechanical properties, including Curie temperature of 380 °C, large-signal equivalent piezoelectric coefficient d33* of 395 pm V–1, small-signal piezoelectric coefficient d33 of 302 pC N–1, and electromechanical coupling factor kp of 50.2%, which is comparable to commercial PZT-5A ceramics, indicating potential in high-temperature applications. Furthermore, in-situ X-ray diffraction (XRD) and piezoelectric force microscopic (PFM) techniques demonstrate that multiphase coexistence and complex nanodomains promote piezoelectric response via synergism. The x = 0.24 composition exhibits the highest in-situ d33 of 577 pC N–1 and good temperature stability in 30−280 °C, indicating that BZT-modified BFO-PT ceramics are promising candidates for high-temperature piezoelectric devices.

Synthesis of the ternary boride Cr3AlB4 ceramics from raw powders contaminated with the amorphous phase

Cr3AlB4 is one of the attractive compounds for high-temperature constrictive ceramics due to its combination of properties typical for ceramics or metals. In this study, the formation mechanism of Cr3AlB4, presented in the literature, was confirmed by means of the following analyses: XRD, DSC and SEM. According to them the synthesis of Cr3AlB4 occurs is multi-step process with CrB2 being formed first, followed by Cr3B4, which is intercalated by aluminium to form Cr3AlB4. Furthermore, most scientific papers do not consider the possibility of synthesising MAB phase from the powders containing amorphous phase. In presented work, possibility of synthesis of Cr3AlB4 from the powders containing the amorphous phase and influence of this kind of raw powders on synthesis process is shown.