Synthesis of the novel Zr3AlC2 MAX phase

Thomas Lapauw, Joseph Halim, Jun Lu, Thierry Cabioc'h, Lars Hultman, Michel W. Barsoum, Konstantza Lambrinou, Jozef Vleugels

    Research outputpeer-review

    Abstract

    Herein we report, for the first time, on the synthesis and structural characterization of the Zr-based MAX phase, Zr3AlC2, fabricated by reactive hot pressing of ZrH2, Al, and C powders. The crystal structure of Zr3AlC2 was determined by X-ray diffraction and high resolution transmission electron microscopy to be the hexagonal space group P63/mmc. The a and c lattice parameters are 3.33308(6) Å and 19.9507(3) Å, respectively. The samples include the secondary phases ZrC and Zr–Al intermetallics as confirmed by quantitative electron probe microanalysis. The Vickers hardness, using a force of 30 N, was measured to be 4.4±0.4 GPa.
    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)943-947
    JournalJournal of the European Ceramic Society
    Volume36
    DOIs
    StatePublished - 2016

    Cite this