Mechanochemical and volume combustion synthesis of ZrB2

Formation of ZrB₂ by volume combustion synthesis (VCS) and mechanochemical process (MCP) from ZrO₂-Mg-B₂O₃ was studied. Production of ZrB₂ by VCS in air occurred with the formation of side products, Zr₂ON₂ and Mg₃B₂O₆ in addition to MgO and ZrB₂. Zr₂ON₂ formation was prevented by conducting VCS experiments under argon. Wet ball milling was applied to the VCS products before leaching for easier removal of Mg₃B₂O₆ phase. MgO and Mg₃B₂O₆ were removed from wet ball-milled products by leaching in 5 M HCl for 2.5 h. In MCP, 30-hour ball milling was found to be sufficient for the formation of ZrB₂ with no minor phase formation. Leaching of MCP products in 1 M HCl for 30 min was sufficient to remove MgO. Complete conversion of ZrO₂ to ZrB₂ did not take place in both production methods, even with excess amounts of Mg and B₂O₃. Therefore, formed ZrB₂ contained residual ZrO₂.