Room-temperature mechanochemical synthesis of SiC-based ceramic powders

Abstract

Silicon carbide (SiC) is a versatile ceramic material widely used in electronics, materials science, automotive, and aerospace industries due to its exceptional thermal, mechanical, and electronic properties. However, conventional synthesis routes typically require high temperatures and extended processing times. In this study, SiC based ceramic composite powders were successfully synthesized from a Si–V2O5–C–Mg quaternary initial powders using by high-energy milling followed by a purification process. The synthesis was systematically examined by varying the initial powder compositions and milling durations. Notably, a complete reaction was achieved within just15 min by a high-energy milling, highlighting the efficiency of the mechanochemical approach. A purification process was applied to remove the by-products. Thermochemical calculations were conducted to elucidate reaction mechanisms. XRD and FTIR analyses confirmed that the synthesized and purified powders primarily consisted of SiC, VSi2, V5Si3, and a minor amount of unreacted silicon, with an average crystallite size of approximately 55 nm. Microstructural evolution throughout the synthesis stages was investigated using SEM/EDS, while TEM/EDS studies revealed an average particle size of 180 nm. Additionally, the optical properties of the resultant powders were evaluated using UV–Vis and PL spectroscopy. © 2025 Elsevier Ltd and Techna Group S.r.l.