Exothermic Synthesis and Consolidation of Single-Phase Ultra-High-Temperature Composite Ta4ZrC5.

The possibility of producing ultra-high-temperature composite Ta4ZrC5 by a single-stage method was experimentally studied. The method combines the exothermic synthesis by electrothermal explosion and the consolidation of the hot product under quasi-isostatic compression. The effect of the mechanical activation of the reaction mixture of powders of tantalum, zirconium, and carbon on the formation of the phase composition of Ta4ZrC5 ceramic composite was investigated. The conditions for producing single-phase ultra-high-temperature composite were determined. Composites with an average particle size of 1–2 μm and a residual porosity of 8–10% were obtained. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]