Synthesis and mechanical and thermal properties of (Cr,Mn)₂AlC solid solutions

ABSTRACT

(Cr,Mn)₂AlC solid solutions have attracted much attention due to their magnetic property which will be enhanced with increasing Mn solubility. So far, only 3 at.-% Mn solubility in (Cr,Mn)₂AlC bulk materials has been reported. This work reports on the synthesis of (Cr,Mn)₂AlC solid solutions via a new reaction route with AlCr₂, C and Mn as starting materials. The Mn solubility increases with increasing the starting Mn content. The maximum solubility of Mn in (Cr,Mn)₂AlC was 8.3 at.-%, corresponding to a resultant solid solution (Cr_0.83Mn_0.17)₂AlC. However, increasing the Mn content in the starting mixture caused the formation of impurities in the sintered samples. A dense (Cr_0.95Mn_0.05)₂AlC ceramic has been achieved by hot-pressing the mixture of AlCr₂/C/0.1Mn. The mechanical properties and thermal expansion coefficient of (Cr_0.95Mn_0.05)₂AlC were measured.

KEYWORDS:

• MAX phases
• solid solution
• (Cr,Mn)₂AlC
• mechanical property
• thermal property

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities under Grant no. 2016YJS128, and by the National Natural Science Foundation of China under Grant no. 51372015.