Formation of the intermetallic compound VSi sub 2 and a VSi sub 2 -SiC composite by mechanical alloying

• Published in: Journal of alloys and compounds Vol. 227; no. 1; pp. 76 - 81
• Main Authors: Liu, L, Casadio, S, Magini, M, Nannetti, C A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 15.08.1995
• ISSN: 0925-8388

Powder mixtures corresponding to the compositions V sub 33.3 Si sub 66.7 , V sub 25 Si sub 50 (SiC) sub 25 and V sub 20 Si sub 60 C sub 20 (at.%) were mechanically alloyed starting from elemental vanadium, silicon and carbon as well as silicon carbide powders. The alloying process was monitored by x-ray diffraction and thermal analysis. It was found that the intermetallic compound VSi sub 2 and a VSi sub 2 -SiC composite with homogeneous and nanocrystalline structure were obtained by high energy ball milling. The opposite effect of SiC and C on the reactions between vanadium and silicon was discussed. The annealing behaviour of mechanically alloyed powders was studied by differential thermal analysis. The fast diffusion of silicon atoms into the vanadium matrix is suggested to control the solid state reactions between V and Si in the annealing processes.