Chemical Stability of Ti₃C₂ MXene with Al in the Temperature Range 500⁻700 °C

Ti₃C₂T_x MXene, a new 2D nanosheet material, is expected to be an attractive reinforcement of metal matrix composites because its surfaces are terminated with Ti and/or functional groups of ⁻OH, ⁻O, and ⁻F which improve its wettability with metals. Thus, new Ti₃C₂T_x/Al composites with strong interfaces and novel properties are desired. To prepare such composites, the chemical stability of Ti₃C₂T_x with Al at high temperatures should be investigated. This work first reports on the chemical stability of Ti₃C₂T_x MXene with Al in the temperature range 500⁻700 °C. Ti₃C₂T_x is thermally stable with Al at temperatures below 700 °C, but it reacts with Al to form Al₃Ti and TiC at temperatures above 700 °C. The chemical stability and microstructure of the Ti₃C₂T_x/Al samples were investigated by differential scanning calorimeter, X-ray diffraction analysis, scanning electron microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy.