Chemical synthesis of iron aluminide [FeAl] and iron aluminum carbide [Fe3AlC0.5] nanopowders

摘要: Abstract Nanopowders of iron aluminide [FeAl] and aluminum carbide [Fe3AlC0.5] are prepared by a two-step process involving the reduction chloride [FeCl3] with lithium hydride [LiAlH4]. LiAlH4 serves both as reducing agent source atoms required for formation aluminides. The involves solution phase step resulting in colloidal mixtures, which when heat treated at temperatures above 550 °C undergo solid state reactions to form Presence ethereal solvents [tetrahydrofuran (THF) diethyl ether] during predominantly favors while largely aromatic [75/25 volume percent toluene/THF] solvent mixture promotes intermetallic FeAl heat-treated product. In presence solvents, use slower heating rates performing removal enhance over phase. When is used treatments have no effect on product distribution. Microstructure analysis using SEM & TEM imaging show that Fe3AlC0.5 nanoparticles formed embedded within oxide matrices. average particle size 4–8 nm.