Synthesis of ZrC nanoparticles in the ZrO2-Mg-C-Fe system through mechanically activated self-propagating high-temperature synthesis

Abstract

ZrC nanoparticles in the matrix of Fe were produced by the mechanically activated self-propagating hightemperature method using ZrO2/C/Mg/Fe powder mixtures. The effects of milling time, Fe content, and combustion temperature as well as the formation route for synthesizing ZrC powder particles were studied. The samples were characterized by XRD, SEM, TEM, and DTA. The XRD results revealed that, after 18 h of mechanical activation, ZrO2/ ZC/Mg/Fe reacted with the self-propagating combustion (SHS) mode at 870 °C producing the ZrC-Fe nanocomposite. It was also found that both mechanical activation and Fe content played key roles in the ZrC synthesis temperature. With a Fe content of (5-40) wt%, the SHS reaction proceeded favorably and both the ZrC formation temperature and the adiabatic temperature (Tad) decreased. The MgO content was removed from the final products using a leaching test process by dissolving in hydrochloric and acetic acids.