Mechanochemical Carboaluminothermic Reduction of V2O5 to Produce VC-Al2O3 Nanocomposite

The aim of this investigation is to produce VC–Al2O3 nanocomposite by reducing V2O5 with Aluminum and black carbon powders via mechanochemical process. The effect of milling time on this process was investigated. Milling process was done powder mixture at a rotation speed of 250 rpm for different times. Results showed that VCx has been synthesized after 1 hour of milling. The characterization of phase formation, crystallite size, strain percentage and lattice parameter was done by XRD analysis. To study the morphological evolution and determination of particle size of nanocomposite powders, Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscope (FESEM) was used. The crystallite size and lattice strain were determined by Williamson-Hall method. XRD study showed that for 6 h milling, the width of V4C3 peaks increased while the crystallite size of these phases decreased to about 27nm. In order to formVC–Al2O3 nanocomposite, the mixture was heat treated with the aid of microwave oven. The composite revealed good microwave absorption and heated up to 1150°C.