— Based on experimental and theoretical data, thermodynamic analysis of possible chemical reactions occurring in the titanium–aluminum–hexamethylenetetramine system under conditions of self-propagating, high temperature synthesis (SPHTS) was performed. It was shown that, under the above conditions, the MAX-phase Ti 3 AlC 2 can be predominantly formed at cooling down the material up to temperatures lower than 1100 K. The highest negative values at T = 298 K are those of enthalpy and Gibbs energy of the combustion reaction of hexamethylenetetramine combustion in the air, which allows for the assumption that this is the starting reaction for the synthesis process under study.

— The processes associated with self-propagating high-temperature synthesis (SHS) in the Ti−Al−C powder system are studied, with hexamethylenetetramine amine (С 6 H 12 N 4 ), polytetrafluoroethylene, and amorphous carbon (aC) used as carbon precursors. The key parameters of SHS and way the it unfolds are shown to be determined by the carbon precursor used and a technique employed for preparing initial powder samples. With the indicated carbon precursors, we are able to prepare nanostructured composite materials containing titanium carbide and the Ti 2 AlC MAX phase, while the Ti 3 AlC 2 MAX phase is formed under specific conditions in the Ti−Al−С 6 H 12 N 4 and Ti−Al−aC powder systems.

Possible mechanisms of the formation of carbon nanomaterials (CNMs) with the electrodischarge treatment (EDT) of liquid hydrocarbons are proposed. It is shown that the EDT of hydrocarbons results in a cascade of chemical transformations such as destruction (breaking of C-C bonds), dehydrogenization (breaking of C-H bonds), and polymerization (formation of new C-C bonds). The qualitative and quantitative composition of all EDT products (gaseous, insoluble solid CNM, and substances dissolved in the initial liquid) may be widely varied and significantly depend on the organic liquid used.