Synthesis of high pure Ti3AlC2 and Ti2AlC powders from TiH2 powders as Ti source by tube furnace

Titanium aluminum carbide (Ti 3 AlC 2 and Ti 2 AlC) powders were synthesized from TiH 2 powders instead of Ti powders as Ti source by a tube furnace under argon atmosphere without preliminary dehydrogenation. 95 wt% pure Ti 3 AlC 2 powders were synthesized from TiH 2 /1.1Al/2TiC at 1 450 °C for 120 min. High-purity Ti 2 AlC powders were also prepared from 3TiH 2 /1.5Al/C and 2TiH 2 /1.5Al/TiC powders at 1 400 °C for 120 min. The as-synthesized samples were porous and easy to be ground into powders. Sn or Si additives in starting materials increased the purity of synthesized Ti 3 AlC 2 obviously and expanded the temperature range for the synthesis of Ti 3 AlC 2 . With Si or Sn as additives, high pure Ti 3 AlC 2 was synthesized at 1 200 °C for 60 min from TiH 2 / x Si/Al/2TiC and TiH 2 / x Sn/Al/2TiC ( x = 0.1, 0.2), respectively.