CERAMIC CARBIDE POWDER SYNTHESIS IN A NON-TRANSFERRED ARC PLASMA FLOW REACTOR

A method for the synthesis of fine, pure ceramic carbide powders such as silicon carbide, boron carbide and titanium carbide has been developed involving the thermal dissociation of silica, boron oxide or titanium oxide and methane in a thermal plasma, followed by the formation of the carbides in flight and rapid quenching. A non-transferred arc thermal plasma reactor has been designed, engineered, constructed and operated for this synthesis. The powders have been characterized chemically and physically. Thermodynamic calculations were performed to identify the appropriate experimental conditions and confirm the interpretations of the observed experimental results. A reaction mechanism is proposed based upon the experimental observations and results