Synthesis and Characterization of ZrB2-ZrC Composite Powders from Zircon Sand by Self-Propagating High-Temperature Synthesis Method

ZrB2-ZrC composite powders were synthesized from zircon sand by self-propagating high-temperature synthesis (SHS). The reactions were verified and the feasibility of obtaining the predicted products was calculated from the adiabatic temperature (Tad) and the equilibrium composition using the HSC® chemistry program. The results show that the SHS products consisted of ZrB2, ZrC, ZrO2, ZrSiO4, MgO, and Mg2SiO4. Leaching the products with 0.5 M of HCl solution eliminated the by-product of MgO and the intermediate Mg2SiO4 phases. The phase composition of the products was characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and the morphologies were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) coupled with energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX).