MAX phases

[9] In 1996, Barsoum and El-Raghy synthesized for the first time fully dense and phase pure Ti3SiC2 and revealed, by characterization, that it possesses a distinct combination of some of the best properties of metals and engineering ceramics.

[10] In 1999 they also synthesized Ti4AlN3 (i.e. a '413' MAX phase) and realized that they were dealing with a much larger family of solids that all behaved similarly.

Since 2006 research has focused on the fabrication, characterization and implementation of composites including MAX phase materials.

[20][21][22][23] These carbides and nitrides possess an unusual combination of chemical, physical, electrical, and mechanical properties, exhibiting both metallic and ceramic characteristics under various conditions.

Due to the layered atomic structure of these compounds,[11] some, like Ti3SiC2 and Ti2AlC, are also creep and fatigue resistant,[34] and maintain their strengths to high temperatures.

[37][38][39] During mechanical testing, it has been found that polycrystalline Ti3SiC2 cylinders can be repeatedly compressed at room temperature, up to stresses of 1 GPa, and fully recover upon the removal of the load while dissipating 25% of the energy.

Indeed, a recent study demonstrates that the reversible hysteretic loops when cycling MAX polycrystals can be as well explained by the complex response of the very anisotropic lamellar microstructure.