Carbide, nitride and sulfide transition metal-based macrospheres

A general method for the preparation of transition metal carbide, nitride and sulfide composite materials in the form of macroscopic beads is reported. Ti- and W-based materials were prepared by thermal conversion of Ti- or W-loaded ion-exchange resins in an appropriate atmosphere, inert, NH3 or H2S, respectively. The spherical macroscopic shape of the resin was preserved in most of the product composite materials. The fabrication of pure TiN spherical macrostructures is also demonstrated by using TiO2 spherical beads prepared from the Ti-loaded resin by resin oxidation at 600 °C in the thermal treatment procedure.