Comminution of Cast Materials Prepared by Self-Propagating High-Temperature Synthesis in the Mn–Cr–Al–C System

We have studied the spontaneous comminution of cast materials consisting of a Mn-doped Cr2AlC MAX phase and chromium, manganese, and aluminum carbides and aluminides. The materials were prepared in the form of ingots by self-propagating high-temperature synthesis (SHS) in a 3-L reactor at an argon pressure p = 5 MPa. The starting mixtures consisted of manganese(IV) oxide, chromium(III) oxide, aluminum (ASD-1), and carbon. The presence of aluminum carbide (Al4C3) in a cast material has been shown to lead to spontaneous comminution of the cast material (without mechanical or chemical influences) into powders with a crystalline particle size under 100 μm. The particle size reduction has been shown to result from reaction between aluminum carbide and atmospheric moisture. The synthesized materials have been characterized by X-ray diffraction and X-ray microanalysis, and we have studied structural and phase states of particles of the desired products obtained as a result of self-comminution of a cast SHS material.