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.