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

Abstract

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.