Synthesis of TiB2 powders by borothermal and carbothermal reduction of TiO2

Abstract

Titanium diboride powders were synthesized from TiO2 following different reduction methods at temperatures range from 1000 to 1400°C for 1h under flowing argon gas. The reduction processes used in this study are classified as TiO2 + B (borothermal reduction), TiO2 + H3BO3 + C (carbothermal reduction) and TiO2 + B + C (combined reduction). XRD peaks of TiO2 phase are present for each sample below 1100°C. It was also observed that XRD peaks of TiO2 disappeared and TiB2 was formed in borothermal and combined reduction methods at temperature of 1100°C and above. In the carbothermal method, TiBO3 and TiC phases were present at these temperatures and TiB2 could only be obtained after heat treatment at 1400°C. However, this temperature also caused considerable particle growth and formation of the powders with hexagonal shape morphology. The powders synthesized by the carbon-containing reduction process contained residual carbon.

Keywords

• borides
• tib2
• solid state synthesized powders
• carbothermal borothermal reduction