Carbide Nanoparticles Research Articles

An investigation on the mechanical and corrosion characteristics of magnesium-zinc alloy nanocomposites manufactured via ultrasound-assisted stir squeeze casting

Magnesium alloy (Mg-Zn) was strengthened by including silicon carbide nanoparticles at different weight rates (0, 0.5, 1.0, and 1.5 wt%). The fabrication process involved the help of ultrasonication-assisted stir squeeze casting method. We studied the mechanical, microstructural, and corrosion quality of nanocomposites in relation to variations in SiC particle weight percentage and grain size. A comparison was made between the experimental results and the basic alloy. The findings show that nanocomposites’ mechanical characteristics improve as the SiC particle concentration rises and falls as the particle size increases. In accordance with the ASTM standard, immersion and potentiodynamic polarization tests were conducted to validate that the nanocomposites’ resistance to corrosion increased as the reinforcement weight percentage was increased. The optical microscope was used to observe the grain size. Nanoparticles are evenly distributed throughout the Mg matrix, as shown in scanning electron micrographs. XRD confirms that the nanocomposites include SiC. The nanocomposite reinforced with 1.5 wt% SiCP had 44% higher microhardness and 38% higher tensile strength than the base alloy.

Interatomic Interaction at the Al–TiC Interface

The interaction of a titanium carbide nanoparticle with aluminum (100), (110), and (111) substrates is investigated within the density functional theory. The nanoparticle–substrate interaction energies are determined; the electron density distribution and the electron localization function between aluminum, titanium, and carbon atoms are analyzed. It has been established that the atoms in the upper layers of the aluminum (100) and (110) substrates are significantly displaced relative to their initial positions as a result of the interaction with the nanoparticle, whereas a minor displacement of atoms is typical for the (111) substrate. The interaction between aluminum and carbon atoms at the Al–TiC interface is due to the formation of covalent Al–C chemical bonds. The aluminum atoms forming carbide bonds do not form chemical bonds with titanium atoms. The aluminum atoms that are adjacent to the titanium atoms and are not involved in the formation of carbide bonds form metallic Al–Ti bonds.

Mechanical and Corrosion resistance behavior of Ultrasonication-assisted Electrodeposited Ni–SiC Nanocomposite coatings

Pure Ni/Ni–SiC composite coatings were electrodeposited onto stainless-steel substrate using ultrasonic-assisted electroco-deposition techniques by varying the deposition times. The investigations mainly focus on the structural, microstructural, mechanical, and corrosion properties of the composites coating deposited by varying deposition times in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulphate surfactant and Silicon carbide (SiC) nanoparticles (∼50 nm) reinforcement. The incorporation of filler and increasing deposition time decreases the surface roughness of the coating, making the composite Ni–SiC 2 h deposition smoother as (0.087 ± 0.005) μm compared to other coatings. X-Ray Diffraction results indicated that the coating exhibited an FCC Ni-type structure with the primary orientation along the (200) direction. Microstructural studies conducted with a scanning electron microscope revealed irregular shaped granules within the composite, along with fine grains, and their compaction increased with longer deposition times. Energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy and elemental mapping confirmed that SiC was uniformly distributed in the 2 h composite coatings. This resulted in a considerable enhancement of the composite's mechanical properties, with a nano hardness of (3.12 ± 0.13) GPa and bulk microhardness of (213 ± 5) HV on both the top surface and cross-sectional surface of the composites, respectively. The corrosion study indicated that the Ni–SiC composite films deposited for 2 h provided better corrosion resistance when compared to pure Ni coating.

Individual and collective effects of titanium carbides and multi-walled carbon nanotubes on reinforcing the Inconel 625 alloy fabricated by laser powder bed fusion

Nano-additives reinforced Inconel 625 alloys were manufactured by laser powder bed fusion (LPBF), consisting of titanium carbide nanoparticles (TiC) and/or nickel-coated multi-walled carbon nanotubes ((Ni)MWCNT). Microstructural characterization revealed that respective structures of TiC and (Ni)MWCNT nano-additives were retained, while the (Ni)MWCNT experienced fragmentation into shorter segments after ball milling and LPBF. Compared to LPBF In625, the reinforced samples showed enhanced ultimate tensile strength, yield strength, and hardness, despite decreased elongation to failure. Nano-additives exert varying effects on the properties of the alloys. Individually, (Ni)MWCNT strengthens the alloy, and TiC plays an insignificant role; collectively, they strengthen the material to a higher degree, via refining the cell size and probably increasing dislocation density.

Electron irradiation modified point defects of SiC nanoparticles with tunable high electromagnetic wave absorption

Silicon carbide nanoparticles (SiC nps) were modified by changing the injection amount using 1 MeV high-energy electron as radiation source. When the injection volume reaches 5ⅹ1013 cm−2, the irradiated particles produce defect structures sufficient to optimize the electromagnetic wave absorption performance. With the increase of beam amount, the value of g detected by electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) energy spectrum moves towards the silicon suspension bond, and the macroscopic electromagnetic wave absorption peak gradually moves towards the low frequency, accompanied by the enhancement of absorption intensity and the increase of absorption bandwidth. When the injection volume reaches 3ⅹ1014 cm−2, the loss value of −62.79 dB is achieved at the optimal thickness of 2.56 mm, and the absorption frequency band covers the entire Ku band. SiC presents point defects, and carbon atoms leave the original lattice position due to electron irradiation, forming carbon vacancies, resulting in uneven charge distribution inside the material, resulting in dipoles of orientation polarization, which further affects the electromagnetic wave absorption performance. As the irradiation dosage increases, the defects become denser and purer. This leads to higher electromagnetic wave absorption intensity and a correspondingly lower optimal absorption frequency. Thus, the modification of SiC nps through irradiation achieves tunable absorbers.

SiC actions on characteristics analysis of AZ91D hybrid nanocomposite by liquid state processing

AbstractWith an inherent lowest density and distinct solubility with enhanced mechanical behavior reason, the magnesium alloy composite is extensively used in the auto and aero sectors. The processing of magnesium alloy found micro‐cracks and voids between the oxidation spot, which fails properties. Through the sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) atmosphere, the AZ91D alloy hybrid nanocomposites are synthesized with 10 wt% alumina (Al2O3) and 0, 3, 6, and 9 wt% of silicon carbide (SiC) nanoparticles via a liquid state process with 400 rpm stir speed followed by vacuum die casting. The effect of SiC actions on physical behavior, microstructural formation, and mechanical properties of AZ91D/10 wt%Al2O3, AZ91D/10 wt%Al2O3/3 wt% SiC, AZ91D/10 wt% Al2O3/6 wt% SiC, and AZ91D/10 wt% Al2O3/9 wt% SiC composites are studied and its results compared with cast AZ91D alloy. Due to the actions of SiC in AZ91D/10 wt%Al2O3, the composite density conforms to the rule of mixture, and the void and micro‐cracks are limited (less than 1%) by the impact of the casting process, as evidenced in the microstructural illustration. An effect of 10 wt% Al2O3 and 9 wt% SiC contents in AZ91D facilitates maximum tensile strength of 181 MPa, improved elongation percentage of 2.2%, optimum hardness of 85HV, and superior impact toughness of 21.8 J/mm2, which is higher than the all other compositions.

Facile Synthesis of Crystalline Molybdenum Carbide (Mo2C) Nanoparticles Coupled with a N-Doped Porous Carbon Sheet: A Synergistic Effect on the Electrocatalytic Hydrogen Evolution Reaction

Facile Synthesis of Crystalline Molybdenum Carbide (Mo₂C) Nanoparticles Coupled with a N-Doped Porous Carbon Sheet: A Synergistic Effect on the Electrocatalytic Hydrogen Evolution Reaction

Experimental investigation on the behavior of epoxy/peepal composites fortified with silica and silicon carbide nanoparticles for industrial applications

ABSTRACT Natural composites play a crucial role in industries due to low density, environment friendly and low cost. However, the performance is limited compared to conventional materials. Hence, it is necessary to perform research on the improvement of the strength of natural composites. Peepal fiber is one of the natural fibers noticed by a limited number of researchers. Hence, an attempt has been made to reveal new scientific information of peepal fiber-based composites. In this research, the natural composite was made using peepal fiber and epoxy resin by the hand layup process. Further, nanofillers like silica (SiO2) and silicon carbide (SiC) were used as reinforcing agents. Both reinforcements were added with the epoxy/peepal (70:30) composite as fixed quantity (2 wt%) for comparison purposes. The performance of composites was assessed concerning the reinforcement type. Materials such as epoxy/peepal, epoxy/peepal/2 wt% SiO2, epoxy/peepal/2 wt% SiC and epoxy/peepal/1 wt% SiO2/1 wt% SiC were fabricated. Investigation on mechanical, thermal in addition to water intake characteristics was made. Epoxy/peepal/2 wt% SiO2 composite exhibited maximum tensile, flexural, impact and hardness of 88, 72 MPa, 9.5 kJ/m2 and 77 shore-d respectively. Further, the same composite showed the least thermal conductivity and low water absorption.

Stretchable and ultra‐light non‐woven thermal material with effective photo‐thermal conversion based on solution blow spinning technology

AbstractAn ideal insulation material has long been envisioned as one that not only minimizes heat loss but also provides additional heat. This study presents a non‐woven fabric, comprising ultra‐fine fibers embedded with zirconium carbide nanoparticles (ZrC NPs), prepared via solution blow spinning (SBS) and thermal crosslinking technology. Our results suggest that the fluffily‐structured elastomer, fabricated using rigid polystyrene and flexible polyurethane, exhibits high porosity (96.96%), ultra‐light characteristics (volume density of 47.12 mg cm−3), and effective heat retention (thermal conductivity of 23.1 mW mK−1 at −40°C). Moreover, the fabric demonstrates remarkable fracture strength (206.38 kPa), high elongation at break (34.5%), and superior elasticity even after 100 compression cycles at 40% strain. Despite the fact that introducing 12% ZrC increases the thermal conductivity of the base fabric by 6%, the NPs endow the material with an excellent photothermal conversion function. Following 10 min of exposure to visible light, the surface temperature increases to 71.5°C. Given its impressive performance, this novel non‐woven fabric demonstrates significant potential for applications in the field of cold protection.

Degradation and power generation performance of modified-anode microbial fuel cells for kitchen wastewater

Microbial fuel cells (MFCs) are innovative devices that simultaneously generate electricity and treat wastewater. The performance of MFCs heavily relies on the anode, which serves as the site for the enrichment, electron generation, and transfer of electricity-producing microorganisms. In this study, Researcher investigated the impact of modified electrode materials (Fe3N-Fe3C/CF) loaded with iron nitride and iron carbide nanoparticles at different temperatures on MFC performance, employing carbon felts as anodes. Our results reveal a significant enhancement in the electrical performance of the modified carbon felt anode compared to conventional carbon felt. Notably, when the modified electrode was prepared at 850 °C, the output voltage of the microbial fuel cell assembled with the modified electrode was significantly increased, and its maximum power density increased from 28.57 MW m−2 to 58.86 MW m−2. These findings highlight the potential of high-performance anode materials, as demonstrated in this study, to serve as a reference for enhancing MFC performance.

Restricted growth of molybdenum carbide nanoparticles in hierarchically porous nitrogen-doped carbon matrix for boosting electromagnetic wave absorption performance

With the development of electronic science and technology, electromagnetic pollution is becoming increasingly serious, which urgent people to develop wave-absorbing materials with the features of “thin, light, strong and wide”. In this paper, restricted growth of molybdenum carbide nanoparticles in hierarchically porous nitrogen-doped carbon matrix (Mo2C/NC) was designed and prepared via a salt-assisted template route and carbonization process, whose morphology and the wave-absorbing properties are regulated by changing the content of Mo2C/NC nanoparticles. The honeycomb porous Mo2C/NC composites with large specific surface area and smooth surface can optimize the impedance matching and allow the entrance, multiple reflections and scattering of incident electromagnetic waves (EMW), which effective enhance the electromagnetic wave consumption. Meanwhile, the honeycomb cross-linked carbon matrix facilitates the construction of the conductive network and enhances its conductive loss. Furthermore, numerous Mo2C/NC nanoparticles dispersed restricted growth in carbon matrix induces interfacial polarization. In addition, the heteroatom nitrogen doping acts as dipole centers to induce dipole polarization under electromagnetic field. The uniquely designed Mo2C/NC absorbers show satisfactory EMW absorption behaviors of a minimum reflection loss (RLmin) of −61.53 dB at 1.5 mm and an effective absorption bandwidth (EAB) of 9.6 GHz at 3.5 mm. This work enriches the variety of EMW absorbers and offers the route to promote the EMW absorption performance, especially large effective absorption bandwidth.

Magnetic Nanoparticles with Fe-N and Fe-C Cores and Carbon Shells Synthesized at High Pressures.

Nanoparticles of iron carbides and nitrides enclosed in graphite shells were obtained at 2 ÷ 8 GPa pressures and temperatures of around 800 °C from ferrocene and ferrocene-melamine mixture. The average core-shell particle size was below 60 nm. The graphite-like shells over the iron nitride cores were built of concentric graphene layers packed in a rhombohedral shape. It was found that at a pressure of 4 GPa and temperature of 800 °C, the stability of the nanoscale phases increases in a Fe7C3 -> Fe3C -> Fe3N1+x sequence and at 8 GPa in a Fe3C -> Fe7C3 -> Fe3N1+x sequence. At pressures of 2 ÷ 8 GPa and temperatures up to 1600 °C, iron nitride Fe3N1+x is more stable than iron carbides. At 8 GPa and 1600 °C, the average particle size of iron nitride increased to 0.5 ÷ 1 μm, while simultaneously formed free carbon particles had the shape of graphite discs with a size of 1 ÷ 2 μm. Structural refinement of the iron nitride using the Rietveld method gave the best result for the space group P6322. The refined composition of the samples obtained from a mixture of ferrocene and melamine at 8 GPa/800 °C corresponded to Fe3N1.208, and at 8 GPa/1650 °C to Fe3N1.259. The iron nitride core-shell nanoparticles exhibited magnetic behavior. Specific magnetization at 7.5 kOe of pure Fe3N1.208 was estimated to be 70 emu/g. Compared to other methods, the high-pressure method allows easy synthesis of the iron nitride cores inside pure carbon shells and control of the particle size. And in general, pressure is a good tool for modifying the phase and chemical composition of the iron-containing cores.

Friction stir processing of AZ91 hybrid composites with exfoliated multi-layered graphene: A Taguchi-Grey relational analysis

Friction Stir Processing (FSP) involves the use of Silicon Carbide (SiC) and Graphite (Gr) nanoparticles as reinforcements to enhance the properties of AZ91 Mg alloy composites. The relationship between FSP processing parameters and surface properties of Mg alloy composites with SiC and Gr nanoparticles is poorly understood. The present study addresses this and investigates the impact of SiC and Gr volume percentages (%vol), tool traverse speed (TTS), and tool rotational speed (TRS) on the corrosion behavior and microhardness of AZ91 alloy composites. FSP turns graphite into layered graphene, making it more corrosion-resistant and stronger through various strengthening mechanisms. Taguchi optimization yielded optimal settings in runs H7 (1500 rpm-20 mm/min-13 %vol) and H8 (1500 rpm-40 mm/min-7 %vol) for high microhardness and low corrosion rate. Conversely, runs H1 (500 rpm-20 mm/min-7 %vol) and H3 (500 rpm-60 mm/min-13 %vol) resulted in reduced microhardness and increased corrosion rate. Integrating Taguchi and Grey Relational Analysis (GRA) optimized the multi-objective enhancement of microhardness and corrosion resistance, achieving 3rd-level values for TRS, TTS, and %vol. Notably, the reinforcement percentage, followed by TRS and TTS, simultaneously improved these responses.

Numerical and experimental investigations of mechanical, tribological, and electrical properties of laminated Bi-metal Al/SiC/Ni composites

Bimetal pure Al/SiC/Ninanocomposites are a remarkable class of nanocomposite materials with a layered structure comprising pure aluminum, silicon carbide nanoparticles, and nickel. The ingenious design of these nanocomposites aims to synergistically combine the desirable properties of each constituent material, resulting in an exceptional enhancement of mechanical, thermal, and electrical characteristics. This study focused on fabricating 1-mm bimetal pure Al/SiC/Ni nanocomposites using an accumulative roll bonding process. The rolling process was conducted for eight cycles at a controlled temperature of 250 °C. To understand the behavior of the bonding interface between the aluminum/nickel layers, a comprehensive investigation was carried out using finite element simulation techniques. The study specifically delved into the bonding mechanisms between the aluminum and nickel layers, employing simulation and experimental procedures. A series of rigorous tests were conducted to evaluate the resulting nanocomposites comprehensively. These included tensile strength tests, peeling tests, average Vickers micro hardness tests, wear-resistant tests, electrical resistance testing, and scanning electron microscopy analysis. These tests thoroughly examined the evolution of the microstructure and the nanocomposites’ mechanical properties. The obtained results conclusively demonstrate that the supplementary accumulative roll bonding process led to substantial improvements in the nanocomposites’ mechanical properties, wear resistance, and electrical resistance properties. Furthermore, the simulation results indicate that the optimal bonding conditions, characterized by robust interfacial bonding, were achieved at higher cumulative rolling cycles.

A comprehensive experimental study on thermal conductivity of ZrO2-SiC /DW hybrid nanofluid for practical applications: Characterization, preparation, stability, and developing a new correlation

This study mainly intended to identify changes in the thermal conductivity of distilled water (DW) because of the addition of Zirconium oxide (ZrO2) and Silicon carbide (SiC) nanoparticles. Keeping this in view, the study considered hybrid nanofluid samples developed with the help of ZrO2 (dp: 20 nm)-SiC (dp: 45––60 nm) nanoparticles. Initially, the research involved conducting XRD, TEM, EDX and FESEM tests which allowed for conducting phase and structural analysis and also facilitated the study of nanoparticles’ microstructure. In the next step, a magnetic stirrer and ultrasonic vibrator were used in sequential steps for dispersing and homogenizing Nanomaterials in distilled water. The volume concentration (φ) was kept between 0.025 and 0.1 % during the synthesis of samples. Then the samples were checked to evaluate their thermal conductivity through the transient hot wire method. In this way, the thermal conductivity of all samples was evaluated for temperatures between 20 and 60 °C. The results indicated a positive association of the thermal conductivity of nanofluid with parameters like temperature and solid volume fraction. It was noted that ZrO2-SiC/DW hybrid nanofluid depicted a nearly 25.75 % increase in thermal conductivity at a 0.1 % volume fraction of nanoparticles and a temperature of 60 °C. The value of the thermal conductivity ratio of ZrO2-SiC/DW was determined using the proposed mathematical correlation. The fitting method was applied to experimental data which depicted the R-Square value of 0.9906 which is considerably high. It was found that the proposed equation gave an acceptable value of the maximum margin of deviation (i.e.,1.15 %).

An insight into sintering mechanisms of silicon carbide nanoparticles with additives using MD simulation

The effect of sintering additives on the sintering of SiC nanoparticles is studied by MD simulation. A new potential function is developed based on the lattice size theory. The Al-Si-C element system, Ti-Si-C element system, and V-Si-C element system are simulated and compared. MD simulation can be used to select the sintering additives of SiC ceramics and Al is better by atomic diffusion analysis. The nanoparticle sintering evolution processes with/without aluminum are studied in detail and compared with the typical sintering experimental results. The sintering mechanisms of nanoparticles are quantitatively analyzed by sintering neck growth, energy evolution, and atomic diffusion. The results show that it is beneficial for selecting an appropriate temperature to obtain the highest sintering promotion effect with additives. Kinds of sintering mechanisms are summarized and in good agreement with the traditional sintering theory. The results here are helpful to understand the sintering underlying mechanism of SiC ceramics.

Prediction of Tribological Properties of UHMWPE/SiC Polymer Composites Using Machine Learning Techniques.

Polymer composites are a class of material that are gaining a lot of attention in demanding tribological applications due to the ability of manipulating their performance by changing various factors, such as processing parameters, types of fillers, and operational parameters. Hence, a number of samples under different conditions need to be repeatedly produced and tested in order to satisfy the requirements of an application. However, with the advent of a new field of triboinformatics, which is a scientific discipline involving computer technology to collect, store, analyze, and evaluate tribological properties, we presently have access to a variety of high-end tools, such as various machine learning (ML) techniques, which can significantly aid in efficiently gauging the polymer's characteristics without the need to invest time and money in a physical experimentation. The development of an accurate model specifically for predicting the properties of the composite would not only cheapen the process of product testing, but also bolster the production rates of a very strong polymer combination. Hence, in the current study, the performance of five different machine learning (ML) techniques is evaluated for accurately predicting the tribological properties of ultrahigh molecular-weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) polymer composites reinforced with silicon carbide (SiC) nanoparticles. Three input parameters, namely, the applied pressure, holding time, and the concentration of SiCs, are considered with the specific wear rate (SWR) and coefficient of friction (COF) as the two output parameters. The five techniques used are support vector machines (SVMs), decision trees (DTs), random forests (RFs), k-nearest neighbors (KNNs), and artificial neural networks (ANNs). Three evaluation statistical metrics, namely, the coefficient of determination (R2-value), mean absolute error (MAE), and root mean square error (RMSE), are used to evaluate and compare the performances of the different ML techniques. Based upon the experimental dataset, the SVM technique was observed to yield the lowest error rates-with the RMSE being 2.09 × 10-4 and MAE being 2 × 10-4 for COF and for SWR, an RMSE of 2 × 10-4 and MAE of 1.6 × 10-4 were obtained-and highest R2-values of 0.9999 for COF and 0.9998 for SWR. The observed performance metrics shows the SVM as the most reliable technique in predicting the tribological properties-with an accuracy of 99.99% for COF and 99.98% for SWR-of the polymer composites.

Effects of Interfacial Electron Transport on Field Electron Emission from Carbon Nanotube Paste Emitters.

Field electron emission from carbon nanotubes (CNT) is preceded by the transport of electrons from the cathode metal to emission sites. Specifically, a supporting layer indispensable for adhesion of CNT paste emitters onto the cathode metal would impose a potential barrier, depending on its work function and interfacial electron transport behaviors. In this paper, we investigated the supporting layer of silicon carbide and nickel nanoparticles reacted onto a Kovar alloy (Fe-Ni-Co) cathode substrate, which has been adopted for reliable CNT paste emitters. The X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy, and electrical conductivity measurements showed that the reaction of silicon carbide and nickel nanoparticles on the Kovar metal strongly depends upon the post-vacuum-annealing conditions and can be classified into two procedures of a diffusion-induced reaction (DIR) and a diffusion-limited reaction (DLR). The prolonged annealing at 750 °C for 5 h before the main annealing of the CNT paste emitters at 800 °C for 5 min led to the DIR that has enhanced the Ni silicide phase and a lower potential barrier for the interfacial electron transport, resulting in increased and weakly temperature-dependent field electron emission from the CNT paste emitters. On the other hand, the DLR with only the main anneal of the CNT paste emitters at 800 °C for 5 min gave rise to a higher potential barrier for the electron transport and so lower and strongly temperature-dependent field electron emission. From the results of the interfacial electron transport for the DIR and DLR mechanisms in the CNT paste emitters, we concluded that the ambient temperature dependency of field electron emission from CNT tips in the moderate range of up to 400 °C, still controversial, is mainly attributed to the supporting layer of the CNT emitter rather than its intrinsic electron emission.

The Comparative Third‐Order Nonlinearities of Titanium Carbide and Tungsten Carbide in the Visible Regain

AbstractThis study investigates the structure and properties of Titanium carbide (TiC) and Tungsten carbide (WC) nanoparticles. The X‐ray diffraction patterns confirm the presence of a hexagonal structure in WC nanoparticles and cubic structure in TiC nanoparticles. Transmission electron microscopy analysis reveals the particle sizes to be within the range of 30–50 nm. The bandgap of TiC and WC nanoparticles are 3.5 and 3.6 eV, respectively based on diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS) along with Kubelka–Munk. Furthermore, the optical phonons and dielectric function of WC and TiC nanoparticles are investigated using the reflectance spectra along with the Kramers–Kronig (KK) method. Furthermore, the Z‐scan technique, employing a Nd:YAG laser operating at a wavelength of 532 nm, is utilized to assess the nonlinear optical (NLO) characteristics of WC and TiC nanoparticles. The open aperture Z‐scan measurements of WC nanoparticles indicate reverse saturable absorption (RSA) behavior and a positive nonlinear refraction (NLR) coefficient. On the other hand, TiC nanoparticles show RSA behavior with a negative NLR effect. The order of NLR, nonlinear absorption coefficient, and the susceptibility of TiC and WC are 10−8 cm2 W−1, 10−4 cm W−1, and 10−6 esu, respectively.

Effect of Mg stoichiometry on self-propagating high temperature synthesis (SHS) of ZrC nanoparticles in ZrO2-Mg-C system

ABSTRACT It is significant to develop the production processes of Zirconium Carbide (ZrC) nanoparticles due to its superior properties. In this study, self-propagating high-temperature synthesis (SHS) followed by an acid leaching route was used to produce ZrC powder. ZrO2 was used as the zirconium source, C black as the carbon source and Mg as reductant. After modelling thermodynamically with the FactSage 7.1 software in terms of adiabatic temperature and possible phases, SHS processes were carried out with varying reductant stoichiometry (90%, 100%, 110%, 120%) and applying chemical treatment with HCl leaching for purification. The obtained products were characterised by XRD and SEM-EDS analysis. The optimum reductant stoichiometry for the production of ZrC was determined as 110%. As a result of the leaching processes, it was revealed that ZrC powders with an average particle size of 320 nm and containing a small amount of oxide residues could be synthesised. Compared to carbothermal reduction, which is the main production method of the material, the desired compounds were synthesised with much lower energy consumption and in much finer particles.