A new method to texture dense Mn+1AXn ceramics by spark plasma deformation

This work explored a new method to texture M(n+1)AX(n) phases by deforming discs of dense ceramics Maxthal 211 (R) (nominally Ti2AlC) and Maxthal 312 (R) (nominally Ti3SiC2) in a spark plasma facility. The disc diameter increased by 40% without crack formation. After deformation, the MAX grains exhibited clear preferential crystallographic orientation, whereby the c-axis was aligned to the compression direction. The fracture toughness increased both parallel and perpendicular to the textured top surface compared with the as-sintered materials. The onset of plastic deformation was observed near the brittle-to-plastic transformation temperature, a fact that could be associated with the change in elastic response. (c) 2015 Acta Materialia Inc. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.