Thermal shock behavior of Ti 2 AlC from 200°C to 1400°C

The thermal shock behavior of Ti 2 AlC synthesized by means of self‐propagating high‐temperature combustion synthesis with pseudo hot isostatic pressing is investigated, with a focus on the effect of the quenching temperature and quenching times. In general, Ti 2 AlC exhibits a better thermal shock resistance than typical brittle ceramics like Al 2 O 3 . Although the flexural strength decreases quickly in the temperature range of 300°C‐500°C, no discontinuous decrease in the retained strength is observed in Ti 2 AlC which, as with other MAX phases, differs from the behavior of typical brittle ceramics. Overall, the initial strength (grain size) plays a determining role in the thermal shock behavior of Ti 2 AlC and other MAX phases. On increasing quench times to 5 cycles, the retained flexural strength decreases further, however with a lower rate of decrease compared with the first quench. Quenching at 300°C and above, voids after the pullout of grains and cracks are present, which however are absent in the un‐quenched samples, indicating the weakening of bonding among grains and the induced damage around the grain boundary during the thermal shock.