Ad. Mazzoni et Ef. Aglietti, The formation of ZrX (O-N-C) phase by the carbonitriding of zircon at hightemperatures, MATER CH PH, 65(2), 2000, pp. 166-172
Zirconium compounds and composites as ZrO2, ZrN, ZrN-Si2N2O, etc. art of gr
eat interest for application in the ceramic field due to their good thermal
and mechanical properties. The carbonitriding of oxide compounds is an alt
ernative method to obtain nitrogenous phases. In this work, zircon (ZrSiO4)
, a natural zirconium mineral is submitted to reduction with carbon and sim
ultaneous nitriding. The temperature (up to 1650 degrees C), the C/mineral
ratio, and the reaction time are the main variables. The evolution of cryst
alline phases during reaction is followed using XRD, weight loss and SEM. A
cubic solid solution phase appears: (ZrX with X=O, C, N). Also, monoclinic
ZrO2 and beta" zirconium oxynitride can be obtained when reaction conditio
ns are the adequate ones. Volatilisation of silica occurs during reaction.
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