MAX phase Ti2AlC foams using a leachable space-holder material

摘要

MAX phase foams from commercial Ti2AlC powder were prepared by a novel powder processing methodusing raw sugar as space-holder. Manufacturing MAX phase foams using this method involves mixingTi2AlC powder with raw sugar, pressing the mixture to form a green body followed by space-holderremoval and sintering. Green bodies were formed using cold uniaxial pressing and porosity wascontrolled varying the size and amount of the raw sugar space-holder. Three different space-holderparticles sizes in the range of 250-1000 μm and four different volume amounts (20%, 40%, 60% and80%) of space-holder were studied. The foams produced were characterized, and the size distribution andamount of resulting porosity was compared with the theoretically expected values. Optimal conditionsusing this novel processing technique for this material were established aiming towards controlling thefinal microstructures and properties, of porous Ti2AlC MAX phase.