Flame synthesis of high purity, nanosized crystalline silicon carbide powder
- AeroChem Research Labs., Inc., Princeton, NJ (United States)
Self-propagating flames in pure silane-acetylene mixtures produce silicon carbide (SiC) powder and hydrogen as main products. Through precise control of the stoichiometry of the reactant gas mixture, it has been possible to produce white SiC at high yields. Characterization of such powders by TEM has shown that the nascent powder consists of polycrystalline hexagonal plates with a narrow size distribution (40 {+-} 7 nm diameter). Infrared spectroscopy of powders indicate microcrystalline SiC and little bound hydrogen. Chemical analysis by the ANSI method showed the powder to be >96 wt% SiC with an impurity of silica (3.9 weight%) due to air exposure of the powder. Traces (0.1 to 0.2 weight%) of both free carbon and free silicon were found. Metal impurities detected by SIMS were typically low: less than 10 ppba for aluminum, sodium, titanium and vanadium. Boron was observed at 10 ppma. Like the oxygen, the boron impurities are probably associated with exposure of the powders to the atmosphere.
- OSTI ID:
- 470902
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-951155--; ISBN 1-55899-313-4
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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