Mechanical-activation-assisted combustion synthesis of SiC

Mechanical-activation-assisted combustion synthesis of SiC has been conducted with PVC as promoters. The mechanical activation of the Si-C reactants through high-energy attrition milling could result in substantial decrease of the ignition temperature and the incubation time for the Si-C combustion reaction. Ultra-fine beta-SiC powders with equiaxed grains were synthesized at the preheating temperature as low as 1050 degrees C. The specific surface area (SSA) of the combustion synthesized SiC powders was 4.36 m(2)/g, and the average particle size was less than 5 mu m. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.