Synthesis of SiC/Si3N4 nanocomposite by using automotive waste tyres as resource

• A novel approach to synthesis SiC/Si3N4 nanocomposite by using waste tyres.
• Formation of β-SiC/α-Si3N4/β-Si3N4 nanocomposite was confirmed.
• Particle size of SiC/Si3N4 nanocomposite was in the range of 20–100 nm.
• This approach reduces tyre waste and recovery of valuable carbon source.

Large number of waste automotive tyres are being disposed through landfill or illegally dumped and only small proportions are currently recycled. Waste tyres can be a source of health and environmental concerns and also represents a loss of potential valuable source. The ecofriendly and resource recovery approach is critically required to recycle waste automotive tyres. In this paper, an attempt to synthesis SiC/Si3N4 nanocomposite by in situ process using automotive waste tyres as resources has been reported. The synthesis was carried by using simultaneous carbothermal reduction and nitridation reaction at 1550 °C in nitrogen atmosphere using pyrolysed waste automotive tyre char as carbon source and silicon dioxide as silica source. The formation of SiC and Si3N4 particles was confirmed by FTIR and XRD techniques. Raman analysis signifies the major phases of β-SiC, α-Si3N4 and β-Si3N4. The particle size of synthesised SiC/Si3N4 nanocomposite was in the range of 20–100 nm and mainly composed of sphere shaped nanoparticles. This innovative approach of using automotive tyres as carbon source for synthesising SiC/Si3N4 nanocomposite will reduce the volume of wastes in landfills, decreases the risk of health concerns and also recovers valuable carbon resource.

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