Production of Zirconium Carbide Nanoparticles at Low Temperature without Thermal Operations | WPN World People News

The synthesized nanoparticles can be used in the production of electrodes, superalloys and protecting shields in thermocouples.

Zirconium carbide nanoparticles have wide applications in various industries due to their unique properties, including high hardness, high melting point, appropriate resistance to thermal shock, low rate of evaporation, solid phase stability and transparency against neutrons.

The production of carbides such as zirconium carbide usually requires high-temperature ovens. This fact increases production costs and the nanostructure is not usually formed due to the high temperature. The aim of the research was to produce zirconium carbide nanoparticles from an oxide raw material through a method without the need for high-temperature ovens. Therefore, the production cost is reduced and nanostructured zirconium carbide nanoparticles are produced.

In this research, zirconium carbide nanoparticles have been produced by using cheap oxide raw materials in comparison with zirconium powder through mechanochemical method. To this end, the raw materials were reduced according to the stoichiometry reaction at various times with various compositions by using the reductive agent of magnesium.

Results of the research showed that mechanochemical reaction is an appropriate method to produce nanostructured zirconium carbide without the need for thermal operation. In addition, the composition of magnesium is the key factor in the reaction, to the extent that the production reaction stops at amounts lower or higher than the optimum amount.

Source: Nanotechnology Now