Mechanochemical synthesis of niobium silicides from industrial waste

Abstract

This study investigates the mechanochemical synthesis of niobium silicides using a mixture of technically pure niobium and silicon powders in an Activator 2SL planetary ball mill. The initial powders were derived from industrial waste materials, specifically niobium machining chips and silicon wafers. Synthesized products were characterized using X‑ray diffraction, particle size analysis, and scanning electron microscopy. The findings suggest that niobium silicides, including the most refractory Nb₅Si₃ phase, form at various stages of mechanical processing. The proportion of the Nb₅Si₃ phase in the processed mixture increases with the duration of mechanosynthesis, reaching 67 wt % after one hour of treatment.