  MAX phases have great potential under demands of both high-temperature and
high-stress performance, with their mixed atomic bonding producing the
temperature and oxidation resistance of ceramics with the mechanical resilience
of metals. Here, we measure the mechanical properties up to 980C by
nanoindentation on highly dense and pure Cr$_2$AlC, as well as after oxidation
with a burner rig at 1200C for more than 29 hours. Only modest reductions in
both hardness and modulus up to 980C were observed, implying no change in
deformation mechanism. Furthermore, micro-cantilever fracture tests were
carried out at the Cr$_2$AlC/Cr$_7$C$_3$ and Cr$_7$C$_3$/Al$_2$O$_3$ interfaces
after the oxidation of the Cr$_2$AlC substrates with said burner rig. The
values are typical of ceramic-ceramic interfaces, below 4 MPa/m, leading to the
hypothesis that the excellent macroscopic behaviour is due to a combination of
low internal strain due to the match in thermal expansion coefficient as well
as the convoluted interface.
