Rapid and direct reactive synthesis of Ti-Al intermetallics by microwave heating of TiH2 and Al powder without microwave susceptor

TiAl and TiAl3 titanium aluminide intermetallic compounds are synthesized directly within a few ten seconds by microwave technique. An initial mixture of TiH2 and Al powders has been used. Such mixture avoids the use of a microwaves susceptor. The hydrogen desorbed during the experiment keep the mixture in a reductive atmosphere thus avoiding possible oxidation. The role of TiH2 is then: (i) to act as a microwave absorber, (ii) to provide a reductive atmosphere and (iii) to provide energy through the hydrogen release reaction. The formation of the various intermetallics has been highlighted by X-ray diffraction and EPMA analysis.