Synthesis of zirconium carbide nanoparticles by sol-gel method and determination of powder characteristics

In this study, zirconium carbide nanoparticles were synthesized by the sol-gel method in the alcoholic system. The sol was prepared in a three-component alkoxide-water-alcohol system based on the chemical sol-gel process under acidic conditions and at pH = 5. Zirconium n-propoxide, furfuryl alcohol were used as raw materials. After the hydrolysis process and formation of the gel, the initial powder was subjected to heat treatment and formed ZrC nanoparticles. The effects of pH and temperature parameters in the synthesis process of these nanopowder were investigated. To evaluate product properties, DLS SEM, DTA / TG-XRD-FTIR analyzes were used. The results for sol showed that by controlling pH in the range of 5, precursors particles containing Zr could be synthesized in sizes below 10 nm. In FTIR data, Zr-O and Zr-C bonds were identified in the range of 560 and 505 cm-1, respectively. The DTA / TG ​​analysis showed that the initial nucleates of ZrC particles were formed at a temperature of 1320 ° C, which confirmed  by the x-ray diffraction pattern. SEM microstructures showed that, zirconium carbide particles were formed in the range below 100 nm, and the distribution of particle size in a narrow and uniform range.