Temperature-driven deintercalation and structure evolution of Ag/Ti3AlC2 composites

Ag/Ti3AlC2 composites are promising sliding contact material. Here, Ag/Ti3AlC2 composites were obtained via the hot pressing technique and their structure evolutions upon sintering temperature were investigated. Sintering temperature controlled the deintercalation of Al layers from Ti3AlC2, thus controlling the interfacial structure of Ag/Ti3AlC2 composites. Amorphous interface was found after sintering at 750 °C. TiCx particles with a size of around 10 nm were found in the interfacial region after sintering at 800 °C. Increasing sintering temperature to 850 °C, stripy structures composed of alternately arranged silver-rich phase and TiCx phase appeared around the edges of Ti3AlC2 particles. The over-saturated Al precipitates found in 850 °C sintered composites are cubic μ-Ag3Al inter-metallic compounds, which have the coherent relationship with Ag matrix.