Synthesis of β-Sialon/Ti(C,N) Composites Using Low and Middle Grade Bauxite and Ilmenite by Carbothermal Reduction-Nitridation

Abstract

β-Sialon/Ti(C,N) composites were prepared using low and middle grade bauxite and ilmenite as raw material,while coke as reducing agent in high purity nitrogen atmosphere through carbothermal reducrion-nitridation(CRN).The main phases of low and middle grade bauxite are kaolinire(Al2O3•2SiO2•2H2O) and (Al2O3•H2O)2 and ilmenite mainly contain ilmenite(FeTiO3) and rutile(TiO2).The reaction products of bauxite are the β-Sialon(Z=3,Si3Al3O3N5) while those of ilmenite are TiC and Fe.The results showed that the main phases are β-Sialon,Ti(C,N),Al2O3 and Fe when the reaction temperature is at 1400°C holding for 4 hours(10wt% ilmenite and 90wt% bauxite as raw material).However,β-Sialon decomposes into 21R at 1450°C and into 15R and AlN at 1500°C.So 1400°C is selected as the proper temperature to synthesize β-Sialon/Ti(C,N) composites.At 1400°C,the β-Sialon crystals with the largest quantity grow well and show long column in shape.With the increase of the reacrion temperature β-Sialon begin to decompose,the β-Sialon crystals change to short columnar,with the number decreasing quickly.