Synthesis and pressureless sintering of Ti₃SiC₂ powder

Ti₃SiC₂ powder of about 96 wt% purity was produced using TiC_x and Si powders. The synthesis process was characterized by an exothermic reaction at ∼985 °C and low activation energy (∼27 kJ/mol) of conversion. Almost complete conversion to Ti₃SiC₂ phase was observed during sintering. The onset temperature of sintering was found to be at about 1060 °C using dilatometer. The density of nearly 99% (theoretical) was achieved through the pressureless sintering of Ti₃SiC₂ powder by 1 and 2 wt% Si powder additions. The sample (without sintering aid) sintered at 1500 °C for 4 h showed uniformly distributed angular grains, whereas the bimodal nature of the microstructure was observed when Si was added as a sintering aid.