MAX phase Ti2AlC foams using a leachable space-holder material

Abstract

MAX phase foams from commercial Ti 2 AlC powder were prepared by a novel powder processing method using raw sugar as space-holder. Manufacturing MAX phase foams using this method involves mixing Ti 2 AlC powder with raw sugar, pressing the mixture to form a green body followed by space-holder removal and sintering. Green bodies were formed using cold uniaxial pressing and porosity was controlled varying the size and amount of the raw sugar space-holder. Three different space-holder particles sizes in the range of 250-1000 µm and four different volume amounts (20%, 40%, 60% and 80%) of space-holder were studied. The foams produced were characterized, and the size distribution and amount of resulting porosity was compared with the theoretically expected values. Optimal conditions using this novel processing technique for this material were established aiming towards controlling the final microstructures and properties, of porous Ti 2 AlC MAX phase.

Porosity effect on microstructure, mechanical, and fluid dynamic properties of Ti2AlC by direct foaming and gel‐casting

“…So far, the majority of studies reported on these materials focus on dense components. Research on porous Ti 2 AlC and other MAX phases is rather limited . Porous MAX phases need systematic studies, because control of the porosity and pore size can be used to tailor their functional properties.…”

“…Porous MAX phases need systematic studies, because control of the porosity and pore size can be used to tailor their functional properties. For example, porous Ti 2 AlC is an attractive material for high‐performance applications such as electrode materials for harsh chemical environment, microbial fuel cells (MFCs), and solar volumetric collectors . Porous Ti 2 AlC with a high level of open porosity can also be used as preform for metal‐ceramic interpenetrating composites in order to produce materials with exceptional damping properties .…”

“…Research on porous Ti 2 AlC and other MAX phases is rather limited. [5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17] Porous MAX phases need systematic studies, because control of the porosity and pore size can be used to tailor their functional properties. For example, porous Ti 2 AlC is an attractive material for high-performance applications such as electrode materials for harsh chemical environment, microbial fuel cells (MFCs), and solar volumetric collectors.…”

“…For example, porous Ti 2 AlC is an attractive material for high-performance applications such as electrode materials for harsh chemical environment, microbial fuel cells (MFCs), and solar volumetric collectors. 5,6 Porous Ti 2 AlC with a high level of open porosity can also be used as preform for metal-ceramic interpenetrating composites in order to produce materials with exceptional damping properties. [18][19][20] For this kind of applications, porous micro-and macrocellular structures become part of the original component design, providing added value, high performance, and unique properties.…”

“…[18][19][20] For this kind of applications, porous micro-and macrocellular structures become part of the original component design, providing added value, high performance, and unique properties. Manufacturing methods for highly porous MAX phases reported in the literature so far include: (i) incomplete densification during sintering of MAX phase powders or reaction sintering of elemental powders, [9][10][11] (ii) pore former method using NaCl or raw sugar as a space holder, 6,12,15 (iii) replica template method, 5,16 and recently (iv) gel-casting. 17 Gel-casting of foams combines aeration and gelation of ceramic suspensions containing gelling agents.…”