Combustion Synthesis of Titanium Carbonitrides

Titanium carbonitride (TiC0.5N0.5) micron powders were synthesized in reactions of titanium with zinc dicyanide: Zn(CN)2 + 4Ti → 4TiC0.5N0.5 + Zn. The reactions are sufficiently exothermic to propagate in the reactant mixture to form a self-sustaining, high-temperature synthesis (SHS). The final product was separated and the only byproduct (zinc) was removed by dissolution in dilute hydrochloric acid. The use of zinc dicyanide as the source of carbon and nitrogen causes the titanium carbonitride to contain only these elements in an atomic ratio of one. The reaction temperature can be easily reduced by the addition of zinc powder to the green mixture. Synthesis in the presence of zinc yields TiC0.5N0.5 powders consisting of round-shaped and unagglomerated particles.