Synthesis of nano Ti(C,N) powder by mechanical activation and subsequent carbothermal reduction–nitridation reaction

Abstract

Abstract Nano Ti(C,N) powder with average particle size of below 100 nm was synthesized from nano anatase/carbon black mixtures employing mechanical milling activation and subsequent carbothermal reduction–nitridation (CRN) reaction. The activated and heat-treated powders have been characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), reaction dynamics of activated powders has been studied by thermogravimetry-differential scanning calorimetry (TGA-DSC), and Ti(C,N) products were evaluated by transmission electron microscope (TEM). The results show that CRN reaction of anatase was enhanced by pre-milling the starting powders. Thus, onset formation temperature and holding time of Ti(C,N) decreased from 1300 °C to 1150 °C and from 4 h to 2 h, respectively. However, mechanical activation did not alter phase evolution sequences of TiO2 CRN reaction.