Deformation of polycrystalline Ti2AlC under compression

Deformation of polycrystalline Ti2AlC under room and high temperature compression was investigated. The results demonstrated that Ti2AlC was damage tolerant at room temperature and the samples were shear fractured upon failure. At high temperatures Ti2AlC deform plastically. The brittle-to-ductile-transition temperature (BDTT) of Ti2AlC was between 1000 degreesC and 1050 degreesC. The microstructure and fracture surfaces were examined using scanning electron microscopy. Due to insufficient number of dislocation systems, the room-temperature deformation was constitute of kinking and delaminating of laminated Ti2AlC grains, basal plane dislocation slip, formation of voids and cavities in the vicinity of main crack. At high temperatures below BDTT, the deformation was a combination of cavities formation and intergranular sliding. At temperatures above BDTT, the deformation was mainly plastic flow.