Comparison of thermal stability in MAX 211 and 312 phases

Abstract

The susceptibility of four MAX phases (Ti 2 AlC, Cr 2 AlC, Ti 3 AlC 2 , and Ti 3 SiC 2 ) to high-temperature thermal dissociation in vacuum has been investigated using in-situ neutron diffraction. In high vacuum, these phases decomposed above 1400°C through the sublimation of M and A elements, forming a surface coating of MC. The apparent activation energies for the decomposition of sintered Ti 3 SiC 2 , Ti 3 AlC 2 , and Ti 2 AlC were determined to be 179.3, -71.9, and 85.7 kJ mol −1 , respectively. The spontaneous release of Ti 2 AlC and TiC from de-intercalation during decomposition of Ti 3 AlC 2 resulted in a negative activation energy.© 2010, Insitute of Physics