Abstract

In the present study, the focus is on the effect of cobalt oxide powder in the carbothermal reduction of the titanium-cobalt-oxygen based oxide powder by solid carbon for the optimizing synthesis process of ultra fine TiC/Co composite powder. The titanium-cobalt-oxygen based oxide powder was prepared by the combination of the spray drying and desalting processes using the titanium dioxide powder and cobalt nitrate as the raw materials. The titanium-cobalt-oxygen based oxide powder was mixed with carbon black, and then this mixture was carbothermally reduced under flowing argon atmosphere. Changes in the phase structure and thermal gravity of the mixture during carbothermal reduction were analysed using XRD and TGA. Titanium-cobalt-oxygen based oxide powder desalted at 600°C had a mixture of TiO_2;and;Co_3O_4. And the one desalted at 800°C had a mixture of TiO_2;and;CoTiO_3. In the case of the former powder, the reduction of cobalt oxide powder in the titanium-cobalt-oxygen based oxide powder occurred at lower temperature than the latter one. However, the carbothermal reduction of titanium dioxide powder in the titanium-cobalt-oxygen based oxide powder with a mixture of TiO_2;and;Co_3O_4 occurred at higher temperature than the one with a mixture of TiO_2;and;CoTiO_3. And also, the former powder showed a lower TiC formation ability than the latter one.

• Keywords: Titanium carbide;Cobalt oxide;Spray drying;Carbothermal reduction;Titanium oxide;Hard materials;;