Rapid synthesis of single-phase Ti3AlC2 through pulse discharge sintering a TiH2/Al/TiC powder mixture

Single-phase dense Ti3AlC2 was rapidly synthesized through pulse discharge sintering a TiH2/Al/TiC powder mixture. Dehydrogenation of TiH2 was rapidly accomplished during the synthesis process at the heating up stage below 800 °C. The formation of Ti3AlC2 was found to be achieved by the reactions among the intermediate phases of AlTi3, Al3Ti, AlTi and Ti2AlC, as well as the reactants in the starting powders.