Synthesis, Characterization, and Mechanical Properties Evaluation of Mg-Ti₃AlC₂ Composites Produced by Powder Metallurgy/Hot Pressing

Magnesium (Mg)-titanium aluminum carbide (Ti₃AlC₂) composites were produced by hot pressing (HP) at 0.15 to 1 MPa, 923 K (650 °C) for 30 minutes; Mg-Ti₃AlC₂ (10 to 30 vol pct) composite produced at 0.15 MPa, 923 K (650 °C) for 30 minutes exhibited 95 to 99 pct relative density (RD), while Mg-40Ti₃AlC₂ produced at 1 MPa, 923 K (650 °C) for 30 minutes exhibited full density. Improved densification results are mainly due to the flow of liquid Mg between the Ti₃AlC₂ particles. The monolithic Mg processed at 5 MPa, 873 K (600 °C) for 5 minutes also exhibited full density. Further, Mg-Ti₃AlC₂ composites produced at low pressure (1 MPa) exhibited maximum density as compared to other research works. Monolithic Mg exhibited a microhardness of 62 ± 8 HV_0.5. Besides, as the Ti₃AlC₂ content was varied from 10 to 40 vol pct, the microhardness of Mg-Ti₃AlC₂ composites increased from 62 ± 5 to 158 ± 11 HV_0.5. The compressive strength of Mg-Ti₃AlC₂ (10 to 40 vol pct) composite at room temperature (RT) was in the range of 180 ± 10 to 617 ± 13 MPa. The compressive strengths of Mg-Ti₃AlC₂ (30 and 40 vol pct) composites at 473 K (200 °C) were 366 ± 20 and 480 ± 71 MPa, respectively. The flexural strength of Mg-Ti₃AlC₂ composites (20 to 40 vol pct) was determined to be in the range of 335 ± 12 to 513 ± 3 MPa.