The mechanically activated sintering process was adapted to synthesize titanium aluminum carbide (Ti₃AlC₂) at low temperature. A mechanically induced self-propagation reaction occurred by mechanical alloying of 3Ti/Al/2C powder mixtures. In addition to powder products, a large amount of rigor granules with a size of 0.5 ∼ 10 mm were produced. Fine powders containing Ti₃AlC₂, Ti₂AlC and TiC were obtained. The granules composed of Ti₃AlC₂, Ti₂AlC and TiC. Adding Sn may remove Ti₂AlC and enhance the synthesis of Ti₃AlC₂. After Sn was added, the products only contained Ti₃AlC₂ and TiC. The Ti₃AlC₂ content of the powders and granules were 75 wt% and 88 wt%, respectively. The mechanically alloyed products were pressureless sintered at 900–1300°C for 2 h. Sintering of these products at 900 ∼ 1200°C yields samples containing over 95 wt% Ti₃AlC₂. The sintered powder compacts with high purity Ti₃AlC₂ had a fine organization. The lath Ti₃AlC₂ of the granules had a length of 10–20 𝜇m.

The microstructure and mechanical properties of Ti₃SiC₂–SiC nanocomposite fabricated by in situ hot pressing (HP) synthesis process were studied. The results show that dense Ti₃SiC₂–SiC composite contained minor TiSi₂ obtained by hot sintering at 1350°C for 1 h. The average grain size of Ti₃SiC₂ was 4 𝜇m in length, and the size of SiC grains is about 100 nm. With its fine microstructure, the Ti₃SiC₂–SiC nanocomposite shows good mechanical properties.

The combustion reaction of Ti–Al–C–N system was investigated by using Ti powders and one CN_𝑥 precursor powder as reactant powder blends. The reactant powder blends ratio was adjusted to obtain different materials. The phase composition of the samples was investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD). The microstructure of the samples was observed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The result showed that Ti₂Al(C,N)–TiAl𝑥, AlN–Ti(C,N) and Ti₃Al(C,N)₂–TiC composites can be fabricated by changing the reactant powder blends ratio.