“…To improve the purity of MAX, Al 4 C 3 has been used to replace Al in starting mixtures because, at sintering temperatures, Al 4 C 3 can provide both Al and C atoms in the system of M–Al–C, and also Al 4 C 3 cannot be easily lost due to its higher melting point (2200°C) than Al. The Al containing MAX phases and their solid solutions such as (Ti 1−x Nb x ) 2 AlC, 13 Ti 3 Si 1−x Al x C 2 , 14 Cr 2 AlC, 15,16 Ti 2 AlC, 17,18 Ti 3 AlC 2 , 19 ZrAl 4 C 4 , 20 Zr 2 Al 4 C 5 and Zr 3 Al 4 C 6 , 21 Nb 2 AlC and (Ti,Nb) 2 AlC 22 have been consequently synthesised.…”