The Key Role of Tin (Sn) in Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of TiSnC (MAX) Thin Nanocrystalline Films and Powdered Polycrystalline Samples.

Layered ternary TiSnC carbides have attracted significant attention because of their advantage as a M2AX phase to bridge the gap between properties of metals and ceramics. In this study, TiSnC materials were synthesized by two different methods-an unconventional low-energy ion facility (LEIF) based on Ar ion beam sputtering of the Ti, Sn, and C targets and sintering of a compressed mixture consisting of Ti, Sn, and C elemental powders up to 1250 °C. The TiSnC nanocrystalline thin films obtained by LEIF were irradiated by Ar ions with an energy of 30 keV to the fluence of 1.