Formation Mechanisms of Ti^sub 3^SnC^sub 2^ Nanolaminate Carbide Using Fe as Additive

Reactive sintering of 3Ti:Sn:2C and 3Ti:Sn:2C:0.6Fe powder mixtures is studied in the temperature range 510...C-1200...C under argon. It is demonstrated that the recently discovered Ti...SnC... phase is formed, provided that Fe is added to a 3Ti:Sn:2C reactant mixture within the synthesis conditions used. Using dilatometric and X-Ray diffraction analyses, the formation mechanism of Ti...SnC... is discussed. Results show that at low temperature (about 510...C), tin is consumed to form Fe...Sn... intermetallics. At high temperature (about 1060...C), tin is newly available to form Ti...SnC... due to the melting of Fe...Sn... Then, the intermediate phases, TiC and Ti...SnC, and/or Ti...Sn..., TiC, C, and Ti are dissolved in the (Fe + Sn) liquid phase and Ti...SnC... very likely precipitate from the melt. The second part of the study deals with the optimization of the Fe content in the initial 3Ti:Sn:2C reactant powder mixture to synthesize samples with larger Ti...SnC... content by hot isostatic pressing. (ProQuest: ... denotes formulae/symbols omitted.)