Reactive Mechanical Alloying Synthesis of Nanocrystalline Cubic Zirconium Nitride

Zirconium nitride powders with rock salt structure (γ-ZrNx) are prepared by mechanical milling of a mixture of Zirconium and hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) powders. The products are analysed by x-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and Raman spectroscopy (RS). The formation mechanism of γ-ZrNx by ball milling technique is investigated in detail. N atoms diffuse from amorphous BN (α-BN) into Zr to form Zr(N) solid solution alloy then the Zr(N) solid solution alloy decomposes into γ-ZrNx. No ZrB2 is observed in the as-milled samples or the samples annealed at 1050° C for 2h. (cross-disciplinary physics and related areas of science and technology)