Room‐Temperature Mechanosynthesis of Carbides by Grinding of Elemental Powders

TLDR

The study demonstrates direct room‑temperature mechanochemical synthesis of most metal carbides by milling metal–carbon powder mixtures. The process involves milling metal–carbon powder mixtures at room temperature, followed by characterization of the resulting carbides using X‑ray diffraction and Mössbauer spectroscopy (for Fe‑containing systems). The method yields nanocrystalline (≈20 nm) carbides—including stable, metastable, mixed, and novel phases—across a wide range of elements (Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Zr, Nb, Mo, Hf, Ta, W, Re, Al, Si) and even metal–carbon alloys such as Fe–C.

Abstract

The direct room‐temperature synthesis (mechanochemical synthesis or mechanosynthesis—MS) of most metal carbides by milling metal—carbon powders (size some tens of micrometers) mixtures is described. The particle size of the carbides obtained is of the order of 20 nm. Stable, metastable, mixed, and new carbides can be formed. Moreover, metal—carbon alloys can be obtained, such as in the Fe—C system. The synthesized compounds have been characterized by X‐ray diffraction and Mössbauer spectroscopy for iron‐containing systems. Carbides of the following elements were obtained: Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Zr, Nb, Mo, Hf, Ta, W, Re, Al and Si.