Kinetics and microstructure evolution of Ti2SC during in situ synthesis process

•We first fabricate bulk Ti2SC by using in situ/hot press method.•The reaction path of Ti2SC formation is investigated.•The densification process of bulk sample is observed.

Using in situ reaction method, we have studied the sinter process of the layered ternary Ti2SC with Ti, TiS2 and C powders as initial materials. By XRD and thermodynamic calculations we know that Ti2SC is the final result of the reaction between TiS and TiC. TiS is an important intermediate which is more possible the result of TiS2 and Ti rather than the decomposition of TiS2. DSC curves are used to investigate the reaction kinetics of the whole sintering process. By Kissinger and Ozawa method the activation energy are separately calculated to be 125.4 kJ/mol and 134.9 kJ/mol. We also have observed the grain growth and densification process of bulk sample by SEM.