Nonstoichiometric Titanium Nitrides in the Synthesis of Max-Phases

A new method for obtaining compact samples of titanium nitride solid solutions of a given composition with a yield of up to 95% is proposed. Synthesis proceeds by forming gradient structures based on TiN and non-stoichiometric titanium nitrides containing the required amount of nitrogen, followed by homogenizing annealing in argon atmosphere. It is determined that TiN nitride is an effective precursor for the shape-preserving MAX-phases synthesis during heterophase binary interaction with metallic aluminum at temperatures of about 1000–1100°C.