Efficient and cost-effective method to synthesize highly purified Ti ₄ AlN ₃ and Ti ₂ AlN

Nitrides MAX have attracted ever-growing interest owing to its unique metallic and ceramic characteristics and properties. Here, we report on the synthesis of highly purified Ti ₂ AlN and Ti ₄ AlN ₃ powders from Ti, Al and TiN powders by a facile atmosphere sintering method. The obtained nitrides show highly pure phase and excellent layered structure. Except for the composition difference of raw materials, both the nitrides can be sintered and obtained by same sintering temperature and holding time, which thus makes less processing time and less usage of synthesis parameters as compared to previously synthesis methods. To our knowledge, present work is one of the few reports on synthesis of Ti ₄ AlN ₃ and Ti ₂ AlN using atmosphere sintering method. Furthermore, the lattice changes of the layered structure of Ti ₂ AlX (X=C/N) were studied by changing the composition of X position from the synthesis of Ti ₂ AlCN and Ti ₂ AlC, and the optimal formulation and synthesis mechanism of Ti ₄ AlN ₃ were also studied.