Reactive Mechanical Alloying Synthesis of Nanocrystalline Cubic Zirconium Nitride

Zirconium nitride powders with rock salt structure (γ-ZrN_x) are prepared by mechanical milling of a mixture of Zirconium and hexagonal boron nitride
(h-BN) powders. The products are analysed by x-ray diffraction (XRD), canning electron microscopy (SEM), and Raman spectroscopy (RS). The formation mechanism of γ-ZrN_x by ball milling technique is investigated in detail. N atoms diffuse from amorphous BN (a-BN) into Zr to form Zr(N) solid solution alloy, then the Zr(N) solid solution alloy decomposes into γ-ZrN_x. No
ZrB₂ is observed in the as-milled samples or the samples annealed at 1050°C for 2h.