In-situ Synthesis of Ti3AlC2/TiC-Al2O3 Composite from TiO2-Al-C System

Ti3AlC2/TiC-Al2O3 composite was synthesized by a combustion reaction in TiO2-Al-C system. The effect of the compositions in raw materials on the products was investigated. Ti3AlC2/TiC-Al2O3 composite was obtained at the molar ratio of TiO2:Al:C=3.0:5.0～5.1:1.8～2.0. The reaction path for the 3TiO2-5Al-2C system was proposed. Al3Ti, Ti2O3, TiO, and δ-Al2O3 are found to be transitional phases. Finally,Ti3AlC2/TiC-Al2O3 composite forms at ～900℃ of furnace temperature. The measured Vickers hardness,fracture toughness, and flexural strength of the nearly dense sample from 3TiO2-5Al-2C are 13.3±1.1 GPa,5.8±0.3 MPa.m1/2, and 466±39 MPa, respectively.