Nanocrystalline cubic hafnium nitride (HfNx) powders are prepared by the mechanical milling of Hafnium and hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) powder mixtures. The prepared nanocrystalline HfNx is analyzed and characterized using x-ray diffraction and Raman spectroscopy. HfNx formation mechanisms in both mechanical milling and annealing processes are also studied in detail. It is found that HfNx is probably formed via the phase separation of Hf(N) solid solution alloy driven by reactive mechanical milling in which Hf(N) solid solution alloy is formed by Hf and N atoms through a diffusion reaction process. Meanwhile, a phase separation can also be induced in Hf (N) solid solution as the N content exceeding its solubility limit, leading to an additional way to produce HfNx. No HfB2 has been found during both milling and annealing processes.
Nanocrystalline cubic hafnium nitride (HfNx) powders are prepared by the mechanical milling of Hafnium and hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) powder mixtures. The prepared nanocrystalline HfNx is analyzed and characterized using x-ray diffraction and Raman spectroscopy. HfNx formation mechanisms in both mechanical milling and annealing processes are also studied in detail. It is found that HfNx is probably formed via the phase separation of Hf(N) solid solution alloy driven by reactive mechanical milling in which Hf(N) solid solution alloy is formed by Hf and N atoms through a diffusion reaction process. Meanwhile, a phase separation can also be induced in Hf (N) solid solution as the N content exceeding its solubility limit, leading to an additional way to produce HfNx. No HfB2 has been found during both milling and annealing processes.
[1] Gasch M et al 2004 J. Mater. Sci. 39 5925 [2] Wuchina E et al 2004 J. Mater. Sci. 39 5939 [3] Opeka M et al 1999 J. Eur. Ceram. Soc. 19 2405 [4] Smith F 1970 J. Appl. Phys. 41 4227 [5] Nimmagadda R and Bunshah R F 1979 Thin Solid Film 63 327 [6] Aron P R and Grill A 1982 Thin Solid Film 96 87 [7] Johansson B O et al 1984 Appl. Phys. Lett. 44 670 [8] GAO Xiao-Yong et al 2010 Chin. Phys. Lett. 27 026804 [9] Bab M A et al 2001 Acta Mater. 49 4205 [10] Ding Z H et al 2005 J. Alloys Compd. 391 77 [11] Qiu Li-Xia et al 2008 Chin. Phys. Lett. 25 1898 [12] Christensen A N et al 1983 Phys. Rev. B 28 977 [13] Stoehr M et al 2006 J. Appl. Phys. 99 043507 [14] Okamoto H 1990 Bull. Alloy Phase Diagr. 11 146 [15] Yu J Q et al 1987 Phase Diagram of Binary Alloys (Shanghai: Science and Technology Press of Shanghai) p 22 [16] Kosolapovo T Y 1990 Handbook of High Temperature Compounds: Properties, Production, Applications , (New York: Hemisphere Publishing Corporation) pp 168-169
2010, Vol. 27 
