DENSIFICATION OF SHS OBTAINED Ti2AlC ACTIVE PRECURSOR POWDER BY HOT PRESSING METHOD

Ti2AlC belongs to the interesting group of ternary materials called MAX phases which can be found in the Ti-Al-C-N system. Thanks to the heterodesmic chemical bonding these nanolaminate structured materials possess unique set of properties locating them between metals and ceramics. One of the best methods of obtaining these materials, namely Self-propagating High-temperature Synthesis (SHS) was applied for synthesis of Ti2AlC active precursor powders. As a result of synthesis of various substrates mixtures including elementary powders (Ti, Al, C) and intermetallic compounds (TiAl) which were set in stoichiometric proportions as well as with excess amount of particular reactants powders containing mostly Ti2AlC, Ti3AlC2 and TiC were obtained. Selected powders were hot pressed in various conditions and changes of phase compositions which allowed obtaining single phase dense product as well as changes in apparent density of obtained powders were observed and optimal sintering conditions of Ti2AlC SHS derived powders were established.