Synthesis of Nanocrystalline Cubic Hafnium Nitride by Reactive Mechanical Alloying

Abstract

Nanocrystalline cubic hafnium nitride (HfNx) powders are prepared by the mechanical milling of Hafnium and hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) powder mixtures. The prepared nanocrystalline HfNx is analyzed and characterized using x-ray diffraction and Raman spectroscopy. HfNx formation mechanisms in both mechanical milling and annealing processes are also studied in detail. It is found that HfNx is probably formed via the phase separation of Hf(N) solid solution alloy driven by reactive mechanical milling in which Hf(N) solid solution alloy is formed by Hf and N atoms through a diffusion reaction process. Meanwhile, a phase separation can also be induced in Hf (N) solid solution as the N content exceeding its solubility limit, leading to an additional way to produce HfNx. No HfB2 has been found during both milling and annealing processes.