Reaction mechanism and kinetics in Ti3SiC2 synthesised from oxides

The kinetic analysis of the formation of the Ti3SiC2 MAX phase by the aluminothermic reduction of TiO2 and SiO2 in the presence of carbon is being studied for the first time. The mixture was subjected to simultaneous thermogravimetry-differential thermal analysis in an argon atmosphere at different heating rates. It was observed that the aluminothermic reduction of the oxide content took place in two steps followed by formation of binary carbides to obtain nano-layered structure of 312 TiSiC phase. It was suggested that the formation of Ti3SiC2 occurred by the in situ reaction of intermediate phases such as TiSi, Ti2Si3, SiC and TiC. The kinetics parameters, including the activation energy for the Ti3SiC2 phase, were measured using the Kissinger method. The activation energy was found to be - 269 +/- 7 kJ mol(-1). It is also suggested that for preventing any oxidation of Ti3SiC2 phase, a high-grade purity or pre-purified-grade argon should be used.