Thermochemistry and Kinetics

Abstract

The manufacture of non-oxides by carbothermal reduction can be carried out in a variety of ways to synthesize carbides, borides and nitrides. Carbides are manufactured by the high temperature reaction between carbon and metal oxides alone. The synthesis of borides requires either that elemental boron is present or that the metal oxide or carbon source contains boron, while reaction including nitrogen or a nitrogen containing species is necessary to produce the nitride materials. In all cases, the reactions are highly endothermic, have carbon monoxide ({CO}) as a reaction by-product and are thermodynamically favorable at only very high temperatures.