Synthesis of single-phase Ti3SiC2 with the assistance of liquid phase formation

Single-phase, nearly fully dense ternary compound Ti3SiC2 was successfully synthesized by pulse discharge sintering (PDS) Ti/Si/TiC powder mixture, where coarse Ti powder (−0.15 mm) was used, at 1350–1400 °C for a short time of 20 min. Ti3SiC2 was found to form through reaction among intermediate phases of Ti5Si3, TiSi2 and the starting powders. Evidence of Ti–Si liquid reaction above Ti–Ti5Si3 eutectic temperature was revealed by studying the shrinkage displacement curve, and this liquid reaction is believed to have greatly assisted the ternary phase synthesis reaction as well as densification.