Synthesis of Ti(C,N) ultrafine powders by carbothermal reduction of TiO2 derived from sol-gel process

Experimental results demonstrate that TiC1-xNx ultrafine powders can be synthesized by the sol-gel process. The factors influencing the powder synthesizing process, such as temperature, C/Ti ratio in raw materials, holding time and flow rate of nitrogen gas, are discussed. TiC0.5N0.5 powders with particle sizes less than 100 nm were produced at 1550 degrees C. The microhardness of hot-pressed TiC0.5N0.5 samples at 1750 degrees C was 19.6 GPa and the relative density was 98.9%. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.