Ti3AlC2 ceramics were heat treated at the temperature from 1050 to 1450 degrees C. Vickers hardness, fracture toughness, flexural strength and compressive strength of Ti3AlC2 were tested and calculated before and after heat treatment, respectively. Ti3AlC2 content, fracture toughness, flexural strength and compressive strength of Ti3AlC2 first increase and then decrease, while Vickers hardness is just the opposite with the increase in temperature from 1050 to 1450 degrees C. After heat treatment at 1250 degrees C, Ti3AlC2 content reaches the highest level of 94.2 wt%, and fracture toughness, flexural strength and compressive strength reach the maximum values, which are 6.4 MPa center dot m(1/2), 318 MPa and 662 MPa, respectively. Vickers hardness reduces to the lowest value of 2.9 GPa. Heat treatment does improve the strength and Ti3AlC2 content, but reduces the hardness and optimizes the mechanical properties of Ti3AlC2.