Synthesis and structural evolution of vanadium carbide in nano scale during mechanical alloying

In this study, nano crystalline vanadium carbide was synthesized by mechanical alloying method. V2O5, C and Mg powders were placed in a planetary ball mill and sampled after different milling times. XRD and FESEM were used for characterization of synthesized powder. Studies showed that crystalline V8C7 has been synthesized by 24 h milling and subsequently heat treatment at 800 °C. It was concluded that the V8C7 crystallites were nano sized and the lattice parameter deviated slightly from the standard size. Furthermore, milling led to increase in strain and decrease of vanadium carbide particle size.