Synthesis and characterization of nanosized Ti3AlC2 ceramic powder by elemental powders of Ti, Al and C in molten salt

A simple method to synthesize high-content ternary carbide Ti3AlC2 nanoparticles from Ti, Al, and C starting elemental powders without ball milling in NaCl‒KCl molten salt was reported. The effects of mass ratio of the salt to starting materials, temperature, reaction time, and Al molar ratio on preparation of Ti3AlC2 were investigated. The Ti3AlC2 formation is dramatically influenced by temperature and mass ratio of the salt to raw materials: a higher temperature and higher mass ratio of the salt to raw materials are more preferable for Ti3AlC2 powder formation. Homogenous Ti3AlC2 powder with particle size of ˜100 nm is synthesized by 3Ti/Al/2C starting elemental powders in NaCl‒KCl molten salt at 900 °C for 10 h, 950 °C for 5 h, or 1000 °C for 2 h, respectively, when the mass ratio of the salt to 3Ti/Al/2C starting materials is 10:1.