Effects of TiC and Ti3AlC2 addition on combustion synthesis of Ti3AlC2 powders

Titanium aluminium carbide (Ti3AlC2) powder was fabricated through combustion synthesis process by using Ti, Al, C and TiC powders as raw materials. The experimental results show that the phase formation of the final product is affected by the addition of TiC exceptionally. TiC is the main phase in the final product under the condition of no addition of TiC in the raw materials. However, Ti3AlC2 becomes the main phase with the addition of TiGin the raw materials. Furthermore, the amount of Ti3AlC2 is enhanced with increasing the amount of TiC addition in the raw materials and decreasing the combustion temperatures. The addition of Ti3AlC2 as seed crystal is beneficial to form Ti3AlC2.