Abstract <p>The relevance of the work is associated with the widespread use of high-temperature heaters in industry. A promising method for producing such heaters is self-propagating high-temperature synthesis (SHS). MAX phases, which combine the properties of metals and ceramics, are resistant to oxidation in air at high temperatures, are not afraid of thermal shocks and are promising for the production of high-temperature heaters. The aim of this work was to study the possibility of producing conductive coatings based on the MAX phase Ti₂AlC by the SHS method in the self-propagating mode and in the “thermal explosion” mode. For this purpose, layers of Ti, Al, C powders and Ti + C, 2Ti + Al mixtures in various combinations were applied to the substrate. In the self-propagating mode, the reaction was initiated using a Ti + 2 B mixture and an electric coil. In the thermal explosion mode, the samples were heated with a linear change in the furnace temperature and the temperature of the powder layers was recorded. Anomalously low reaction initiation temperatures were recorded. It has been suggested that this may be due to the oxidation of the mixture components in air and the transition of the process from the thermal explosion mode to the ignition mode. Samples with high electrical conductivity have been obtained, which can be used as electric heaters.</p>