A Quantitative Study of the Synthesis of TiB₂ Particles via Salts-Metal Reaction at Different Temperatures

Abstract

This research quantitatively studied the effect of temperature on the synthesis of TiB₂ particle reinforcement via a casing method in which a salts-metal reaction was involved. Experimental results showed that the yield of TiB₂ reached 89.5 pct and most TiB₂ particles ranged from 400 to 800 nm at 1173 K (900 °C) with a 10-minute reaction time; when the reaction time was 30 minutes, the TiB₂ particles had similar yield and size distribution. At 973 K (700 °C) with a 10-minute reaction time, most TiB₂ particles were less than 300 nm, whereas the yield was just 28.1 pct; as the time was prolonged to 30 minutes, some smaller-sized TiB₂ particles were synthesized and the yield of TiB₂ was 36.4 pct. At a higher temperature [1173 K (900 °C)], the synthesis of TiB₂ mainly followed the precipitation-growth process at reaction interface. At a lower temperature [973 K (700 °C)], the precipitation-growth process and dissolution reaction between Al₃Ti and AlB₂ both contributed to the formation of TiB₂.