Preparation and Characterization of Si3N4-TiN Nanocomposite via in situ Co-deposition in Liquid Ammonia

"A new method of TiN/Si3N4 nanocomposite synthesis was described and tested. TiCl4 and SiCl4 used as the starting materials and sodium as the reduction agent were conducted in liquid ammonia respectively. TiCl4 and SiCl4 were reduced simultaneously and titanium nitride/silicon nitride nanocomposite powderswere obtained by in situ co-deposition at temperatures around ~ 45 oC. X-ray diffraction patterns indicate that the product was amorphous and the by-product was sodium chloride. The product powders were heated up to 1600 oC and crystallization to TiN and fi-Si3N4 happened. Due to presence of TiN, the crystallization of silicon nitride in the mixture was later than that of pure silicon nitride. Transmission electron microscopy images show the average size of powders range from 10 nm to 40 nm and scanning electron microscopy images conformed that Ti and Si elements were dispersed uniformly. A green bulk nitride composite containing 20%TiN with the mean grain size of 100-300 nm and fracture toughness of 10.1§1.1 m1=2MPa , was obtained by spark plasma sintering at 1500-1600 oC. The effect of TiN additiven microstructure and mechanical properties of composite bulk was discussed."