Experimental and thermodynamic study of the hydrothermal oxidation behavior of Ti3SiC2 powders

The interaction of Ti3SiC2 with H2O at 50 MPa and 500–700 °C was investigated. Thermodynamic calculations were also employed to analyze the reactions. During hydrothermal oxidation, Ti and Si were selectively oxidatively extracted from Ti3SiC2, resulting in the formation of TiO2, SiO2 and amorphous-sp2-disordered carbon. This phenomenon was attributed to the unique bonding and structural characteristics of Ti3SiC2.