Double SHS of ZrB2 powder

Production of ZrB2 powder through self-propagating high-temperature synthesis (SHS) from ZrO2, Mg and H3BO3 mixture often leads to incomplete conversion. A new technique, called DSHS (double SHS) has been developed, wherein the reaction product of the first SHS is mixed with calculated amounts of Mg and H3BO3 powder and subjected to a second SHS. The ZrB2 powder produced by DSHS technique yields increased conversion. The NaCl is used as a diluent during SHS to control the particle size of the product. The average particle size of SHS ZrB2 powder found to be 75–125 nm in range, which decrease to 25–40 nm after DSHS.