EFFECT OF COBALT CHLORIDE TREATMENT ON THE FORMATION OF SIC FROM BURNT RICE HUSKS

The effect of cobalt chloride (CoCl2) treatment on the formation of Si C from burnt rice husks has been studied over a temperature range of 1 200 to 1600-degrees-C. It has been shown that CoCl2 decreases the crys tallization of carbon and silica in rice husk and accelerates the form ation of SiC. Formation of SiC whiskers from CoCl2 treated burnt rice husks has been found to be negligible. The untreated burnt rice husks have yielded a maximum quantity of SiC whiskers at 1600-degrees-C. Slo w heating (at 5-degrees-C/min) to 1600-degrees-C has decreased the rea ctivity of silica and carbon in the rice husk by increasing their degr ee of crystallization. No alpha-SiC formed from the CoCl2 treated burn t rice husks.