Pyrolysis synthesis and microstructure of zirconium carbide from new preceramic polymers

ZrC was synthesized by pyrolysis of a novel polymeric precursor, which was prepared from the reaction of zirconium tetrachloride with acetylacetone, methanol and 1,4-butanediol. The pyrolysis behavior and structural evolution of the precursor, the microstructure and composition of the synthesized ZrC particle were fully investigated. The results showed that the precursor could completely transform into ZrC after heat treatment in argon at temperatures above 1400 °C. However, the initial formation temperature of ZrC was as low as 1200 °C whereas ZrO2 as an intermediate product was also produced from the precursor at 1000 °C, and the mixture was finally transformed into pure ZrC at elevated temperatures. The obtained ZrC particles exhibited face-centered cubic lattice structures with the size ranging from 50 to 100 nm.