Effect of pH and temperature on the sol-gel synthesis of TiC nanopowders

In the present study, titanium carbide powders with suitable morphology and nanometer particle size were synthesized by the sol-gel method to investigate the parameters affecting the properties of sol and the final powder. The initial sol was prepared in a four-component system of alkoxide-water-alcohol-citric acid based on the chemical process of sol-gel. Accordingly, the results of the Dynamics Light Scattering (DLS) showed that at low pHs, the particles size was below ۱۰ nm. According to the zeta potential diagram and by examining the conditions of sol at different pHs, ۴.۵ was determined as the optimal pH and to prevent the bonding of particles within the sol, ammonium polycarboxylate dispersant was used. The temperature at which particles were formed was determined using Differential thermal analysis (DTA) and Thermal gravimetric analysis (TG). X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns showed the presence of a completely amorphous phase at ۷۰۰˚C. It was also observed that with increasing temperature, TiC crystallization started from ۱۲۰۰˚C and ended at ۱۴۰۰˚C. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) micrographs at ۱۴۰۰˚C showed the completely spherical morphology of particles of nanometer size so that no agglomerate was observed.

Keywords:

Titanium Carbide , Nanopowder , Synthesis , Sol–gel , Mesoporous , Carbothermal