Synthesis of titanium nitride in a thermal plasma reactor

Titanium nitride has been synthesized in a thermal plasma reactor from ilme nite ore concentrate using methane and ammonia as the reactive gases. The p roduct has been characterized by X-ray diffraction and SEM. Results show th at the amount of methane significantly affects the phase composition of the product. Higher concentration of methane favours the formation of iron, ti tanium nitride and titanium carbonitride. The formation of titanium carboni tride can be minimized by controlling the concentration of methane. The for mation of TiN proceeds by the progressive reduction of the oxides of titani um to titanium carbide, which is converted to titanium carbonitride and fin ally to titanium nitride. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science S.A. All rights reserve d.