Synthesis of Ti2AlC by spark plasma sintering of TiAl–carbon nanotube powder mixture

In this study synthesis of Ti2AlC is investigated by mixing TiAl powder and Carbon nanotubes (CNTs). The CNTs were grown uniformly on the TiAl powder by direct in-situ growth using the CVD technique. The ratio of the starting material obtained this way is highly non-stochiometric compared to that normally used to synthesize this compound. Analysis of the sample obtained by SPS sintering of TiAl with in-situ grown CNT mixtures, however, resulted in a predominantly single phase sample of Ti2AlC. This is believed to be due to the presence of uniformly distributed CNTs which favors the formation of the ternary phase. The density and hardness of the sample was similar to the results reported for synthesis of Ti2AlC.