Synthesis and characterization of SiC and SiC/Si3N4 composite nano powders from waste material

In the present work, nano silicon carbide has been prepared by pyrolysis of rice-husk ashes as starting materials. Three rice-husk ash samples having different features were used. The first was coarse-grained rice husk ash (fired husk as is), the second was fine rice husk ash (hand-ground), while the third was ball milled one. Effect of ball milling of the starting ashes for 6 h on the formation of nano SiC was investigated and compared with those prepared without milling. The particle sizes of the prepared SiC materials were affected by the milling process. The particle sizes of the obtained nano SiC from ball milled staring materials were smaller than those prepared without milling. The pyrolysis conditions, i.e. the temperature and atmosphere were optimized. The optimum firing temperature to obtain well crystalline nano SiC was 1550 degrees C. The effect of pyrolysis atmosphere, i.e. argon, vacuum and nitrogen was also demonstrated. The pyrolysis in argon exhibited lower efficiency on the formation of SiC than vacuum; while the pyrolysis in nitrogen atmosphere led to formation of SiC/Si3N4 nanocomposite. (C) 2012 Elsevier BM. All rights reserved.