Effect of different precursors on the formation and physical properties of V2AlC MAX phase

In the present study, the effect of different aluminum and vanadium precursors on the formation and physical properties of the V2AlC MAX phase were studied. The results showed that the synthesis of V2AlC is more favorable by elemental precursors than carbide precursors, and at least the presence of one metallic element is essential to accelerate the phase formation. The highest electrical conductivity (254 ± 12 Sm−1) was for the sample with fine powders of VC and aluminum as precursors. The purest sample (76.2% wt. V2AlC) had metallic elemental precursors for both vanadium and aluminum sources and showed electrical conductivity of 188 ± 9 Sm−1. The results showed that the specific surface area had no direct effect on the electrical conductivity because its increase can improve the electrical contacts between the powder particles and on the other side, it increases the surface resistivity.