Synthesis, microstructure and properties of (Cr1−xVx)2AlC solid solutions

Predominantly single-phase and nearly dense (Cr1−xVx)2AlC (x = 0, 0.1, 0.25 and 0.5) solid solutions were synthesized by pulse discharge sintering (PDS) using Cr, V, Al and C powders as starting materials. Average grain sizes of the V-containing compounds were measured to be the same, around 9 μm. The Vickers hardness of the compounds increases linearly with V content due to solid solution hardening. Thermal conductivity decreases slightly to a minimum value followed by an increase with V content, which is attributed to the phonon and carrier scattering due to the V solution in the C2AlC compound.