XIE Houbo, LI Kezhuo, YUAN Gaoqian, ZHANG Jingzhe, ZHANG Haijun, LI Faliang
(The State Key Laboratory of Refractories and Metallurgy, Wuhan University of Science and Technology,
Wuhan 430081, Hubei, China)
Abstract: Ti3AlC2, which exhibits a special hexagonal layered structure consisting of alternately stacked edge-shared Ti6C octahedrons and two-dimensional close-packed Al planes, shows unique combined properties of ceramics and metals, such as high melting point, high elastic modulus, excellent high-temperature oxidation resistance, high electrical and thermal conductivity and outstanding machinability. Currently, Ti3AlC2 has been successfully used as high temperature coating materials, high temperature structural materials, chemical anticorrosive materials, electrode brush materials, pantograph material sand MXene precursors. However, the inherent low hardness and weak strength of Ti3AlC2ceramics hinder their wide applications as structural materials. Various methods, including solid-solution strengthening, second-phase strengthening and texture strengthening, have been proposed to enhance mechanical properties of the ceramics. This article is aimed to review the main strengthening methods of Ti3AlC2 ceramics and analyze the advantages and disadvantages of these strengthening methods. The drawbacks that need to be solved urgently in the future are discussed. Finally, possible improvement directions and applicable optimization strengthening strategies of the ceramics are proposed.
Key words:Ti3AlC2 ceramic; solid-solution strengthening; second-phase strengthening; texture strengthening