The formation mechanism of Ti2InC by pressureless sintering and optimization of synthesis parameters

Ti2InC is expected to have promising applications in many fields owing to its excellent conductivity and stability, and large-scale synthesis of high-quality Ti2InC is crucial to explore its various potential applications. In this paper, Ti2InC powder is synthesized starting from elemental Ti/In/C powder mixtures by pressureless sintering. Composition of starting powder and sintering parameters are optimized for synthesizing Ti2InC. Ti2InC phase can be obtained facilely by sintering a mixture of 2Ti/1In/0.95C (molar ratio) at 1250 degrees C for 1.5 h, which greatly shortens the preparation time. The purity of the Ti2InC in the sintered product reaches 94 wt%, evaluated by the relative intensity ratio (RIR) method analysis, and unreacted C is confirmed as a major impurity phase. The reaction path of Ti2InC formation is revealed by DSC, XRD, and SEM, and the formation mechanism of Ti2InC is discussed. A novel discovery is that TiC is not formed during the synthesis of Ti2InC.

Automated summary

Ti2InC is expected to have promising applications due to its excellent conductivity and stability. This paper discusses the large-scale synthesis of high-quality Ti2InC through pressureless sintering, with optimized composition of starting powder and sintering parameters. The formation mechanism and reaction pathway of Ti2InC are explored, with a novel finding that TiC is not formed during its synthesis.