Rapid synthesis and elastic properties of fine-grained Ti2SnC produced by spark plasma sintering

Fine-grained Ti2SnC was successfully synthesized and densified by spark plasma sintering (SPS) of pure Ti, Sn and C powders at 1200-1400 °C. Ti2SnC was the predominant phase at 1325 °C, with minor amounts of remaining Sn and TiCx. At lower processing temperatures, Ti-Sn intermetallics and TiCx were present, whereas the decomposition of the MAX phase into Sn and TiCx was observed at higher temperatures. The shear modulus, Young's modulus and Poisson's ratio were measured to be 83.9 GPa, 207.4 GPa and 0.24, respectively. The evolution of the Young's modulus as a function of temperature was measured up to 800 °C.