EFFECT OF FABRICATION PARAMETERS ON SYNTHESIS OF Ti2AlC AND Ti3AlC2 MAX PHASES BY MASHS

Mechanically Activated Self-propagating High temperature Synthesis (MASHS) is the method which is used to promote self-propagating synthesis by increasing activity of reactants and increase the purity of products. In this study Ti2AlC and Ti3AlC2 max phases were synthesized by using mechanically activated self-propagating high temperature synthesis (MASHS) and samples reactivity and phase structure of samples was studied. This process was performed by combination of short duration ball milling (MA) of reactants (Ti, Al and C as raw materials) and selfpropagating high temperature synthesis (SHS) by microwave or furnace. Mixtures of Ti/Al/C by mole ratio of 2:1:1 and 3:1:2 were milled for 2h., then exothermic reaction was initiated in microwave or high temperature furnace and their reaction behavior and structure have been investigated by DTA and XRD. Results revealed that it’s possible to fabricate these materials by MASHS method but purity of them depends on type of reaction condition. DTA and XRD analyses proved that increasing of soaking time did not improve purity of compounds and some impurities such as TiC would be formed in non-optimized reaction routes.