Al2O3-TiN Nanocomposite powder synthesis using mechanochemical process

In recent years, much research in the field of advanced materials synthesis using the mechanochemical process has been performed. In this study, Al2O3-TiN nanocomposite was produced by the mechanochemical method and using inexpensive material TiO2 (instead of pure titanium which is too expensive). Also, aluminum and titanium oxide powders were used as raw materials. Milling under N2 atmosphere with 5 atmospheric pressure was performed and the products were evaluated by the SEM and XRD. Milling results showed that in the first stage of the synthesis process, titanium oxide is reduced by aluminum and the process continues, producing titanium reaction with nitrogen. When the Al/TiO2 ratio molar is equal to 1.2 and 1.3, after 20 hours of milling, TiN peaks in the XRD appears. Moreover, the results showed that milling leads to the formation of fine and spherical particles.