Synthesis of Ta4HfC5 Ceramics with a Submicron Structure by Electro-Thermal Explosion under Pressure

Abstract

Ultra-high-temperature Ta₄HfC₅ ceramics with a submicron structure has been manufactured from a 4Ta + Hf + 5С powder mixture by electro-thermal explosion under pressure. The effect of the duration of mechanical activation of starting 4Ta + Hf powder mixtures on the structure of the resulting precursor has been studied. It has been demonstrated that mechanical activation in hexane for 40–60 min leads to amorphization of metals and nucleation of crystallites of the carbide phase with a cubic structure. This makes it possible to synthesize a single-phase solid solution of tantalum and hafnium carbides with a submicron structure in the course of an electro-thermal explosion.