Titanium Aluminium Carbide (Ti3AlC2) belongs to the family of Mn+1AXn (MAX) phases. MAX phases are a series of ternary carbides and nitrides with similar layered hexagonal crystal structures.MAX phases have a unique combination of properties, including metals and ceramics.
Ti3AlC2 combines the best properties of ceramics and metals. It is relatively soft (Vickers hardness of 3.5 GPa) and elastically hard (Young's modulus of 297 GPa, shear modulus of 124 GPa). It is lightweight (density 4.2 g cm-3) and easy to process. It has good thermal and electrical conductivity. These unique properties give it the potential for a wide range of applications in high-tech fields, such as wear-resistant parts, chemical equipment components, etc.
