Influence of Initial Materials and Modes of Self-Propagating High-Temperature Synthesis on the Ti2AlN MAX Phase Formation

Composite materials based on Ti–Al–N were obtained by the self-propagating high-temperature synthesis method. The influence of the initial reaction mixture and synthesis modes on the morphology, structure, and phase composition of the samples were studied using X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy. In the thermal explosion mode, the formation of up to 93 wt % of the Ti2AlN MAX phase (phase Mn + 1AXn, where n = 1, 2, 3, …; M is a transition d-metal; A is a p-element; X is carbon) was shown from the initial Ti and AlN mixture. The influence of aluminum dispersion on the qualitative and quantitative phase composition of the samples obtained in the wave combustion mode of Ti and Al powders in a nitrogen atmosphere was analyzed. The use of aluminum with a lower dispersion leads to an increase in the Ti2AlN content (from ~ 42 to ~ 47 wt %).