Combustion synthesis of Si-related crystalline nanostructures

• Self-propagated high temperature synthesis (SHS technique) of SiC.
• The use of low-cost starting materials like Tarflen.
• SEM, EDX and XRD analysis of products.
• New types of nanomaterials were obtained.

The unique self propagated high temperature synthesis (SHS technique) allows for an effective, energetically autothermal formation of different novel materials, including nanostructural, non-stoichiometric and bearing new phases, this all during fast reaction in a mixture strong oxidant/strong reducer. This all results from specific characteristics of the process: high temperatures/pressures, short reaction times and very fast quenching of gaseous reaction products during their expansion from combustion zone towards cooling zone. Silicon carbide as so-called refractory special ceramics possesses very special physical and chemical properties, especially in case of its nanostructural morphology this including 1-D (nanofibres). The results of the exploratory runs regarding the application of SiCNFs as polymer modifier, super-hard ceramic composites (SiCNFs/nano-SiC mixtures) or electron emitter are very encouraging indeed. The results will provide the information regarding the possible reaction channels. The fundamental parametric studies concentrate on the relationship between many process variables and SiCNFs formation efficiency. Relatively costly commercial reactants (Aldrich) were previously used which are now replaced by waste Tarflen (as oxidant). Their cost is a few orders of magnitude (!) lower. It will drastically reduce the costs of SiCNFs production since the operational costs of energetically autogenic SSW technique are obviously very low.