Synthesis and mechanical properties of nano-layered composite

In this paper, the bulk nano-layered composite, which contains Ti3AlC2, Cr2AlC and TiC, has been synthesized by self-propagating high-temperature synthesis with the pseudo-hot isostatic pressing process (SHS/PHIP). The density, hardness, flexural strength and fracture toughness of the fully dense composite are 4.55 ± 0.02 g/cm3, 10.53 ± 0.48 GPa, 592 ± 25 MPa and 6.23 ± 0.35 MPa m1/2, respectively. The nano-layered composite exhibits a high hardness, flexural strength, and fracture toughness due to the toughening of the overlap joint lamellas of the Ti3AlC2–Cr2AlC phases and the strengthening of the homogeneously dispersed fine TiC particles.

Research highlights1. The most possible phases of 1.5Ti–0.5Cr–Al–C prepared by self-propagating high-temperature synthesis (SHS) were determined as Ti3AlC2, Cr2AlC and TiC. 2. The fully dense bulk nano-layered composite was firstly prepared by low-cost SHS/PHIP. 3. The considerable efforts to strengthening of Mn+1AXn phases were developed by incorporating for forming a composite. And the nano-layered composite exhibits high mechanical properties, which could expand the Mn+1AXn widespread applications. 4. The high mechanical properties mainly ascribe to the contribution of homogeneously dispersed fine TiC particles (1 μm) and special ‘Y’ and ‘H’ overlap joint lamellas of the nano-layered (50 nm) Ti3AlC2–Cr2AlC phases.