Previous work from this group has reported the synthesis of ceramic nanocrystallites from the powders of molybdenum carbide (Mo₂C) and tungsten carbide (WC) prepared by means of a temperature programmed synthesis (TPS) method using mixtures of methane and hydrogen gases [1,2]. Dispersed nanocrystallites of Mo₂C and WC powders were synthesized via ultrasonic irradiation. Ultrasonic dispersion of metal carbide powders was employed by creating slurries of the metal carbides with deionized water and subjecting the samples to ultrasound energy by means of an ultrasonic horn. These materials have found applications in several areas which include catalysis, microelectronics, fuel cell electrodes, photonics, and mechanical applications.

Several nanostructured metal carbide products have been produced utilizing reactive synthesis which included: Mo₂C, MoC, and WC powders. These metal carbides were synthesized by means of the temperature programmed reactive synthesis (TPRS) method using gaseous mixtures of methane, carbon monoxide, and hydrogen. After temperature programmed reactive synthesis, the products were ultrasonically irradiated in aqueous and organic slurries to determine the effect of solvent on ultrasonic dispersion. The metal carbides were characterized before and after ultrasonic irradiation using room temperature X-Ray Diffraction (RTXRD), elemental analysis, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The slurry liquids were characterized using UV-VIS spectroscopy. The effects of solvent chemistry on the sonolytic dispersion of metal nitrides and carbides will also be discussed.

Cited References

1.Covington, L. and Roberts, K.L., “Production of Dispersed Molybdenum Nitride and Carbide Nanostructured Crystallites via Ultrasonic Irradiation”, AIChE Annual Meeting Proceedings, New York, NY, AIChE (2005).

2.Roberts, K.L.,Arunagiri, A.S., L. Covington, Jr., “Production of Dispersed Molybdenum and Tungsten Carbide Nanostructured Crystallites via Ultrasonic Irradiation”, AIChE Annual Meeting Proceedings, New York, NY, AIChE (2006).