29th Symposium on Fusion Technology (SOFT 2016)

P3.179 Synthesis, Microstructural Characterization and Nanoindentation of Ti2SnC MAX Phase

7 Sep 2016, 11:00

1h 20m

Foyer 2A (2nd floor), 3A (3rd floor) (Prague Congress Centre)

Board: 179

Poster I. Materials Technology P3 Poster session

Speaker

Snejana Bakardjieva (Institute of Inorganic Chemistry AS CR)

Description

Materials from the group of layered Mn+1AXn phases are new type of nanolaminates which can be used in many technical applications, especially as viable candidates for high-radiation structural application in fusion technology. It has been proposed that the novel physical properties of MAX phases arise from their atomic structure, combining “ceramic” MX6 octahedra layers with a single intercalated “metallic” layer, where M is an early transition metal, A is a group III or IV element and X either C or N. The goal of this study is to investigate the microstructure and mechanical properties of the Ti2SnC with layered crystal structure as one of the most fascinating “211” member of MAX phases. We report on the synthesis of Ti2SnC MAX phase with A being low melting metal announced to exhibit superior machinability and excellent thermal shock resistance. Ti2SnC MAX phase was synthesized by powdered Ti, Sn and TiC in a stoichiometric ratio, compressed into a tablet and annealed in a quartz tube under vacuum  at 1200° C. SEM was provided in order to obtain information of Ti2SnC surface morphology. The microstructure was analyzed by HRTEM and by EDS microanalysis. The nanoindentation was performed in order to mechanically quantify the grain behavior. Young´s moduli were calculated from unloading parts of the penetration curves. The electron microscopy and the nanoindentation analysis of Ti2SnC sample confirmed the effect of porosity on different scales and two distinct grain types as well. The cyclic indentation confirmed that the material is very compact and the occurred inelastic hysteresis leads to influence of the elastic and hardness parameters. We observed dense Ti2SnC material with only minor fractions of unreacted TiC0.5 allowing its application at extreme and nuclear conditions.