Self-propagating high-temperature synthesis of Fe2TiSn based Heusler alloys with following spark plasma sintering

The Fe₂TiSn based Heusler alloys were synthesized and studied. The samples were fabricated by a combination of self-propagating high-temperature synthesis (SHS) followed by spark plasma sintering (SPS). An optimal mechanical activation (MA) regime, favoring for successful SHS process was experimentally defined for the stoichiometric mixture of elements powder. The phase evolution of the Fe₂TiSn_i-xSi_x (x = 0, 0.10, 0.15, 1) compound and the morphology of a bulk specimens were studied. It was shown that with the presence of an impurity side phase Fe₂Ti the electrical resistivity of material decreased by an order of magnitude, while the Seebeck coefficient remains unchanged in the range from 3 to 8 μ V K⁻¹.