Molten-salt nitridation synthesis of cubic ZrN nanopowders at low temperature via magnesium thermal reduction

ZrN nanopowders were obtained by using ZrO 2 and Mg as the main raw materials in a molten salt environment and a high-purity nitrogen atmosphere. The effects of ZrO 2 / Mg mole ratio, nitriding temperature , and holding time on the synthesis of ZrN were investigated. ZrN was formed at 700 °C for 3 h. When the nitriding temperature increased to 1000 °C, pure phase ZrN was formed. The specific surface area of ZrN was 20.92 m 2 /g. When the temperature rose to 1100 °C, the resulting ZrN particles were finer; the average size of ZrN decreased from 71.60 to 49.65 nm. Further, an excessively long holding time led to evaporation of the molten salt, ZrO 2 , which was not fully nitrided. Finally, a possible formation mechanism of ZrN is proposed.