Mechanochemical synthesis of ZrB2–SiC–ZrC nanocomposite powder by metallothermic reduction of zircon

Abstract

Aluminium and magnesium were used in the M/ZrSiO4/B2O3/C (M=Al, Mg) system to induce a mechanically induced self-sustaining reaction (MSR). Aluminium was not able to reduce the system to the desired products, and the system became amorphous after 10h milling. However, nanocomposite powder of ZrB2–SiC–ZrC was in situ synthesized by the magnesiothermic reduction with an ignition time of approximately 6min. The mechanism for the formation of the product in this system was determined by studying the relevant sub-reactions.