Synthesis of ZrB2 by Carbothermic Method with Reactant Material Obtained from Polymer Precursor
Abstract
Zirconium diboride (ZrB2) was synthesized via a carbothermic method using a ZrO2 powder mixture, which was obtained a reactant by mixing B2O3 and a carbon source derived from a polymer precursor as well as by combining glassy B2O3 with activated carbon. The polymer precursor was calcined to obtain the reactant powder. ZrB2 particles were synthesized with two different temperatures (1400 °C and 1500 °C). At 1500 °C, the product mainly consisted of short, cubic and prismatic grains exhibiting agglomerated morphologies, wheras at 1400 °C, longer rod-like grains and agglomerated prismatic structures were observed. The final products contained impurities such as ZrO₂ and ZrC. ZrB2 with rod-like morphology was synthesized at different temperatures using the reactant. It was observed that the particle size decreased with increasing synthesis temperature. A higher synthesis temperature also reduced the amount of residual ZrO2 and increased ZrC formation, likely due to boron source deficiency at high temperatures.
Keywords
References
- A. C. Murchie, J. L. Watts, W. G. Fahrenholtz, and G. E. Hilmas, “Mechanical properties of borothermally synthesized zirconium diboride at elevated temperatures,” Int. J. Appl. Ceram. Technol., vol. 18, no. 4, pp. 1235‒1243, Mar. 2021, doi: 10.1111/ijac.13755.
- W. M. Guo and G. J. Zhang, “New borothermal reduction route to synthesize submicrometric ZrB2 powders with low oxygen content,” J. Am. Ceram. Soc., vol. 94, no. 1, pp. 3702‒3705, Oct. 2011, doi: 10.1111/j.1551-2916.2011.04869.x.
- S. Ran, O. Van der Biest, and J. Vleugels, “ZrB2 powders synthesis by borothermal reduction,” J. Am. Ceram. Soc., vol. 93, no. 6, pp. 1586‒1590, Jun. 2010, doi: 10.1111/j.1551-2916.2010.03747.x.
- W. M. Guo and G. J. Zhang, “Reaction processes and characterization of ZrB2 powder prepared by boro/carbothermal reduction of ZrO2 in vacuum,” J. Am. Ceram. Soc., vol. 92, no. 1, pp. 264‒267, Jan. 2009, doi: 10.1111/j.1551-2916.2008.02836.x.
- C. Hu, J. Zou, Q. Huang, G. Zhang, S. Guo, and Y. Sakka, “Synthesis of plate‐like ZrB2 grains,” J. Am. Ceram. Soc., vol. 95, no. 1, pp. 85‒88, Dec. 2012, doi: 10.1111/j.1551-2916.2011.04990.x.
- H. T. Liu, H. Y. Qiu, W. M. Guo, J. Zou, and G. J. Zhang, “Synthesis of rod-like ZrB2 powders,” Adv. Appl. Ceram., vol. 114, no. 8, pp. 418‒422, Dec. 2015, doi: 10.1179/1743676114Y.0000000223.
- C. Xie, M. Chen, X. Wei, M. Ge, and W. Zhang, “Synthesis and microstructure of zirconium diboride formed from polymeric precursor pyrolysis,” J. Am. Ceram. Soc., vol. 95, no. 3, pp. 866‒869, Jan. 2012, doi: 10.1111/j.1551-2916.2011.05060.x.
- E. Y. Jung, J. H. Kim, S. H. Jung, and S. C. Choi, “Synthesis of ZrB2 powders by carbothermal and borothermal reduction,” J. Alloys Compd., vol. 538, pp. 164‒168, May 2012, doi: 10.1016/j.jallcom.2012.05.076.
Details
Primary Language
English
Subjects
Materials Engineering (Other)
Journal Section
Research Article
Authors
Oğuz Karaahmet
*
0000-0001-9120-2932
Türkiye
Early Pub Date
April 21, 2026
Publication Date
April 30, 2026
Submission Date
August 11, 2025
Acceptance Date
March 10, 2026
Published in Issue
Year 2026 Volume: 30 Number: 2