Synthesis of Ti3SiC2 MAX phase powder by a molten salt shielded synthesis (MS3) method in air

Titanium silicon carbide (Ti3SiC2) powder was synthesized by molten salt shielded synthesis route of elemental reactants. Potassium bromide (KBr) was used for gas-tight encapsulation of the consolidated reaction mixture for further high temperature processing. The synthesis of Ti3SiC2 powder was carried out in air, the salt cladding and molten salt pool provided for the protection of the material against oxidation both at low and high temperature. The process yielded free flowing Ti3SiC2 powders without the need of a milling step. Al addition to the reaction mixture resulted in a high purity (96 wt. %) of Ti3SiC2 at a synthesis temperature of 1250 degrees C. The synthesized micro-metric Ti3SiC2 can be milled to nano-metric powders.