Thermal and impact resistance of novel MAX phase ceramics
Lead Research Organisation:
Swansea University
Department Name: College of Engineering
Abstract
The ternary carbides and nitrides known as MAX phases combine the attractive properties of both ceramics and metals; for example Ti2Alc ceramics have attracted in the past attention for a variety of impact resistance applications - this is in the research area of materials engineering and ceramics. The main objective of this research work is to investigate the high temperature impact resistance of high density MAX-phase electrically conductive ceramics. In this project a particular focus has been paid to the Ti2AlC and Ti3SiC2 MAX-phases.
Organisations
People |
ORCID iD |
| Georgios FOURLARIS (Primary Supervisor) | |
| Stephen Counsell (Student) |
Studentship Projects
| Project Reference | Relationship | Related To | Start | End | Student Name |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EP/N509553/1 | 01/10/2016 | 30/06/2022 | |||
| 1815393 | Studentship | EP/N509553/1 | 01/10/2016 | 31/03/2020 | Stephen Counsell |
| Description | For both materials, the critical strain rate for the onset of plastic deformation lies between 1×10-3/s and 1×10-4/s at 1000°C, 1×10-2/s and 1×10-3/s at 1100°C and 1×10-1/s and 1×10-2/s at 1200°C. Samples tested at strain rates faster than the aforementioned strain rates were observed to fail in a catastrophic and brittle manner. Transgranular and intergranular fracture noted in catastrophically fractured samples, with more ductile fractured samples exhibiting numerous microvoids and microcracks throughout the microstructure. Ti2AlC microstructure appears coarser in slow strain rate sample, with a higher proportion of LAGBs than sample subjected to faster strain-rate. Only two active slip systems for Ti2AlC. Three phases were identified in Ti2AlC and two for Ti3SiC2, with Ti2AlC and Ti3SiC2 being the most dominant phases. Ti2AlC microstructure much coarser than Ti3SiC2 microstructure. |
| Exploitation Route | Using the Gleeble 3500 to test the thermomechanical properties of the MAX phases was deemed a success, with scope for more extreme cooling and mechanical testing regimes in future. Thermal Shock Electrical Conductivity measurements both before and after the thermo-mechanical tests to determine the effects such testing has on the material Transmission Electron Microscopy analysis on the deformed samples Further EBSD analysis of microstructure prior and post to deformation GND |
| Sectors | Aerospace, Defence and Marine |