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. V_2O_5, 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 V_8C_7 has been synthesized by 24 h milling and subsequently heat treatment at 800°C. It was concluded that the V_8C_7 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.