XU Jie 1 ,2, YU Teng 2 , ZHOU Xiaobing 2, DAI Jianqing 1, HUANG Qing 2
(1. Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming 650000, Yunnan, China; 2. Ningbo Institute of Materials Technology and Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Ningbo 315000, Zhejiang, China)
Abstract: Pr3Si2C2 is a ternary layered structural material, which combines the merits of ceramics and metals. The synthesis of Pr3Si2C2 is a critical issue for its applications, since the highly reactive Pr is easily oxidized. The Pr3Si2C2 powder was synthesized using a molten salt method through the in-situ reaction between Pr and SiC. Mixed NaCl-KCl molten salt with a molar ratio of 1:1 was used to supply the liquid phase reaction medium and promote the matter transportation. The effects of the molten salt temperature on phase composition and microstructure of the as-obtained Pr3Si2C2 powder were studied. The results indicated that the Pr3Si2C2 powder with a ~8 wt.% oxygen can be obtained at the molten salt temperature of 850 ℃ for 5 h in Ar. The proposed molten salt method for the synthesis of Pr3Si2C2 powder can be potentially used for the fabrication of Pr3Si2C2 ceramics and sintering additive of SiC ceramics and SiC matrix ceramic composites.
Key words: Pr3Si2C2; molten salt method; microstructure analysis