Fabrication of textured Ti3AlC2 by spark plasma sintering and their anisotropic mechanical properties

Textured, dense, polycrystalline Ti3AlC2 ceramics was fabricated by spark plasma sintering (SPS) of plate-like Ti3AlC2 powder synthesized by a reactive SPS-heat treatment of elemental Ti, Al and carbon black powders. The relative density was found to exceed 99% for samples sintered at 1573 K. The Lotgering orientation factor was determined to be f(00l) = 0.69. The crack propagation behavior near the indentation marks formed by a force of 49 N was observed. On the surface parallel to the SPS-loading direction, the toughening mechanism of crack deflection was observed. (C) 2013 The Ceramic Society of Japan. All rights reserved.