Mechanical properties and microstructure evolution of Ti2AlC under compression in 25-1100 °C temperature range

This study investigates the effects of the initial grain size and temperature (ranging from room temperature to 1100 degrees C) on the mechanical properties and microstructure evolution of Ti2AlC MAX phase. A Hall-Petch like relationship is observed between compressive strength and the grain size below brittle-to-plastic transition temperature (BPTT). However, the compressive strength of fine-grained MAX phase decreases more rapidly with increasing temperature resulting in inverse Hall-Petch effect above BPTT. Results from postmortem EBSD analysis reveal complex microstructural evolution in both fine- and coarse-grained microstructures during loading at different temperatures. The pronounced drop in compressive strength for fine-grained microstructures at temperatures close to BPTT is attributed to creep induced grain boundary sliding resulting in texture development with more grains oriented for easy slip. In coarse-grained microstructures, no significant texture development is observed even though grain refinement occurs at all temperatures. A mathematical model has also been formulated to predict the experimentally observed grain size and temperature dependent variation in the compressive strength of Ti2AlC over a wide range of grain sizes and test temperatures. The mathematical model accounts for the competing effects of Hall-Petch strengthening and high temperature creep induced softening mechanisms. (C) 2020 Acta Materialia Inc. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.