Synthesis, Microstructure, and Mechanical Properties of Ti ₃ Sn _{(1− <i>x</i> )} Al <i> _x </i> C ₂ MAX Phase Solid Solutions

Abstract

Ti 3 Sn (1− x ) Al x C 2 MAX phase solid solutions are successfully synthesized from different reactant mixtures. Rietveld refinement allows to carefully characterize their structures and the ocathedra and trigonal prims distortion parameters as a function of the Al content. Mechanical properties of solid solutions are studied from nanoindentation experiments and dynamic resonant method. It is shown that solid solution hardening is not operative in this system. Elastic modulus is found to increase from Ti 3 SnC 2 to Ti 3 AlC 2 , and such a result is discussed in terms of Ti–A bond stiffness.