Synthesis of a Bulk TiSiC MAX Phase by Reduction of TiO with SiC.

The bulk MAX phase TiSiC was first synthesized with a yield of 86% by a long-time thermal treatment of TiO and SiC powder mixture with a molar ratio of 2:3 at 1600 °C under vacuum conditions. It was found that the appearance of TiSiC was preceded by the formation of TiC and TiSiC as a result of the following reactions: (1) combined carbothermic and silicothermic reduction of TiO to TiC accompanied by evolution of SiO and CO gases; (2) silicidation of TiC with gaseous SiO, leading to the growth of TiSiC. It was suggested that, apart from TiC and TiSiC solids, sublimed gaseous species such as Ti, Si, SiC, SiC, etc.