Mechanical-activation-assisted combustion synthesis of SiC powders with polytetrafluoroethylene as promoter

Mechanical-activation-assisted combustion synthesis of SiC has been conducted with polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) as promoters. The mechanical activation of the Si–C reactants with the addition of NH4Cl as process controlling agent during the high-energy attrition milling could substantially decrease the content of PTFE promoter, which is needed for inducing the Si–C combustion reaction. Ultra-fine β-SiC powders with spherical particles were synthesized at PTFE content as low as 6 wt.%. The combustion synthesized SiC powders have a narrow particle size distribution in the range of 0.5–1 μm.