Reaction synthesis of the TiAlN MAX-phase.

The TiAlN MAX-phase is synthesized by reaction sintering from Ti-AlN powder mixtures. The optimal synthesis mode of the compound containing less than 1% of the TiN impurity phase is established. It includes isothermal annealing at 1300°C for 2 h in argon at a pressure of 3 atm. The influence of the preliminary mechanical activation of the powder mixture and the reaction synthesis medium on the yield of the TiAlN phase are investigated. It is shown that the activation leads to an increase in the content of the secondary TiN phase. It is revealed that the vacuum synthesis also does not make it possible to form the singlephase TiAlN material. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]