Structure of zirconium carbide powders subjected to vibratory milling

Conclusions Vibratory milling of zirconium carbide powder can be successfully performed in benzene. Comminution in benzene enables a large specific surface to be attained, with practically no chemical reaction between the medium and the milling products. In milling in trichloroethylene the latter decomposes, with the formation of hydrochloric acid which reacts with the milling products. In a study of the fine structure parameters of zirconium carbide in the <111>, <100>, and <110> directions the smallest crystal lattice strains and block sizes were observed in the <110> direction. This may be taken as evidence that under such disintegration conditions the {110} planes constitute cleavage planes. An evaluation of internal and surface energies established that the strained crystal lattice energy reaches values which must be allowed for in any subsequent uses of the powder.Translated from Poroshkovaya Metallurgiya, No. 4(160), pp. 14–19, April, 1976.