Preparation method and application of aluminum carbide

Preparation method of aluminum carbide

Direct metal carbonization and carbothermic reduction are the earliest synthesis methods, and some technologies have been applied to industrial production. However, the disadvantages of these two methods are high synthesis temperature, long reaction time, and large particle size. However, in the known high-energy ball milling method, the focus is mainly on the in-situ synthesis of a small amount of Al4C3 to enhance the aluminum-based material, rather than the high-purity synthesis of Al4C3. At the same time, the high-energy ball mill itself also has shortcomings such as long ball milling time, high energy consumption, and uneven powder particles.

A method for preparing aluminum carbide powder by plasma ball milling includes the following steps

(1) Simply mix aluminum powder and graphite powder evenly, and grind (refine and activate) with a plasma ball mill under the protection of argon to obtain mixed powder; the mass ratio of stone toner in the mixed powder is 35%, and the residue is aluminum powder; Ball milling conditions: rotating speed 960rpm, discharge current 1.5a, grain-to-material ratio 50:1, ball milling time 1h (not including downtime). The operation mode is alternate restarting for 30 minutes and stopping for 30 minutes (first grinding the ball for 30 minutes, then stopping the ball milling for 30 minutes, then grinding the ball for 30 minutes, and so on);

 (2) After mixing the powder in the ball mill, cover the alumina crucible, place the pot in a vacuum tube furnace, vacuum furnace tube, use a vacuum pump to pump to 10pa, pass in argon, keep the argon flow, repeat the above steps in the tube In the furnace (flow rate of 100 ml/min), the temperature is raised to 1000°C at a heating rate of 10°C/min and kept for 4 hours, and then the air-cooled tube furnace (cooled to room temperature within 100 minutes) is at the end of the aluminum carbide. The SEM picture of aluminum carbide powder is as follows:

Overview of aluminum carbide Al4C3 powder

Aluminum carbide Al4C3 powder is an inorganic compound with the molecular formula Al4C3. Yellow or greenish-gray crystal block or powder, hygroscopic. It decomposes at high temperature and decomposes into methane and aluminum hydroxide in cold water. Al 4 C 3 has a hexagonal crystal structure. Aluminum carbide with the chemical formula Al4C3 is a carbide of aluminum. The appearance is pale yellow to brown crystals. Stable at temperatures up to 1400°C. Decomposes in water to produce methane.

Aluminum carbide Al4C3 powder has an unusual crystal structure, consisting of alternating layers of Al2C and Al2C2. Each aluminum atom matches 4 carbon atoms to form a tetrahedral arrangement. Carbon atoms exist in two different binding environments. One is a deformed octahedron with 6 Al atoms at 217 pm. The other is a twisted triangular double cone structure, with 4 Al atoms at 190-194 pm and a fifth Al atom at 221 pm.

A small amount of aluminum carbide is a common impurity in industrial calcium carbide. In the electrolytic manufacture of aluminum, aluminum carbide is the corrosion product of graphite electrodes.

In metal matrix composite materials based on non-metal carbide (silicon carbide, boron carbide, etc.) or carbon fiber reinforced aluminum matrix, aluminum carbide is usually formed as a defective product. For carbon fiber, it will react with the aluminum matrix at a temperature higher than 500°C; for example, by coating the fiber with calcium carbonate, better fiber wettability and chemical reaction inhibition can be obtained. Large quantities of aluminum carbide are usually immediately available. A carbide is a compound in which an anion is one or more carbon atoms. Although not all, most metals form carbides: for example, indium and gallium do not. Like diamond (a pure carbon substance), carbides tend to be very hard, fire-resistant, wear-resistant, corrosion-resistant, and heat-resistant, so they are very suitable as coatings for drill bits and other tools. They usually combine toughness with other valuable properties, such as electrical conductivity, low thermal expansion, and wear resistance.

Aluminum carbide Al4C3 powder is produced by the direct reaction of aluminum and carbon in an electric arc furnace.

4 Al+3 C→Al4C3

Other reactions start with alumina, but they are not very advantageous due to the production of carbon monoxide.

2 Al2O3+9 C→Al4C3+6 CO

Silicon carbide also reacts with aluminum to form Al4C3. This conversion limits the mechanical applications of SiC because Al4C3 is more brittle than SiC.

4 Al+3 SiC→Al4C3+3 Si

In the silicon carbide-reinforced aluminum-based composite material, silicon carbide chemically reacts with molten aluminum to form a layer of aluminum carbide on the silicon carbide particles, which reduces the strength of the material, but increases the wettability of the silicon carbide particles. It can be reduced by coating silicon carbide particles with a suitable oxide or nitride, pre-oxidizing the particles to form a silicon dioxide coating, or using a sacrificial metal layer.

Aluminum-aluminum carbide composite materials can be made by mechanical alloying and mixing aluminum powder and graphite particles.

Aluminum carbide Al4C3 powder application

Aluminum carbide Al4C3 powder is used in metallurgy, catalyst and methane production. In addition, typical applications of aluminum carbide include:

1. The finely dispersed aluminum carbide particles in the aluminum matrix can reduce the creep tendency of the material, especially when used in conjunction with silicon carbide particles.

2. Aluminum-aluminum carbide composite materials can be made by mechanical alloying, grinding aluminum powder and graphite particles together.

3. Aluminum carbide can be used as an abrasive for high-speed cutting tools, and its hardness is almost the same as that of topaz.

4. Aluminum carbide is also used in fireworks, for example to achieve the effect of fireflies.

Aluminum carbide Al4C3 powder price

The price of aluminum carbide Al4C3 powder will vary randomly with factors such as production cost, transportation cost, international situation, and market supply and demand of aluminum carbide Al4C3 powder. Tanki New Materials Co., Ltd. aims to help various industries and chemical wholesalers find high-quality, low-cost nanomaterials and chemicals by providing a full set of customized services. If you are looking for aluminum carbide Al4C3 powder, please feel free to send an inquiry to get the latest information.

Aluminum carbide Al4C3 powder suppliers

As a global supplier of aluminum carbide, Tanki New Materials Co., Ltd. has extensive experience in the performance, application and cost-effective manufacturing of advanced engineering materials. The company has successfully developed a series of powder materials (including boron carbide, titanium cemented carbide, titanium carbide, etc.), high-purity targets, functional ceramics and structural devices, and provides OEM services.