Element synthesis, silicon carbides

The descriptor was a product of the correlation weights, CW(Ik), calculated by the Monte Carlo method for each kth element of a special SMILES-like notation introduced by the authors. The notation codes the following characteristics the atom composition, the type of substance (bulk or not, ceramic or not), and the temperature of synthesis. The QSAR model constructed in this way was validated with the use of many different splits into training (n 21) and validation (n=8) sets. Individual sub-models are characterized by high goodness-of-fit (0.972 applicability domain of the model, it is not known if all the compounds (metal oxides, nitrides, mullite, and silicon carbide) can be truly modeled together. 

The thermodynamics of the above-elucidated SiC/C and SijN Si composites are determined by the decomposition of silicon carbide and silicon nitride, respectively, into their elements. The chemistry of ternary Si-C-N composites is more complex. If producing Si-C-N ceramics for applications at elevated temperature, reactions between carbon and silicon nitride have to be considered. Figure 18.2, which exhibits a ternary phase diagram valid up to 1484°C (1 bar N2) displays the situation. The only stable crystalline phases under these conditions are silicon carbide and silicon nitride. Ceramics with compositions in the three-phase field SiC/Si3N4/N are unknown (this is a consequence of the thermal instability of C-N bonds). Although composites within the three-phase field SiC/Si3N4/Si are thermodynamically stable even above 1500°C, such materials are rare. The reasons are difficulties in the synthesis of the required precursors and silicon melting above 1414°C. The latter aspect is of relevance, since liquid silicon dramatically worsens the mechanical properties of the derived ceramics. 

The volatile silicon monoxide which is first produced from silicon dioxide reacts with carbon in the upper, cooler part of the furnace to form silicon carbide. This reacts with carbon dioxide to form elemental silicon. The furnace is operated continuously and is rotated slowly. It is emptied of metallic silicon, in the form of compact chunks, every 1 to 2 hours. The natural impurities, mainly iron and aluminium, constitute about 2% of the product and are conducive to the synthesis of organic silicon chlorides. 

Wohler was also a co-discoverer of beryllium and silicon, as well as the synthesis of calcium carbide, among others. In 1834, WOhler and Liebig published an investigation of the oil of bitter almonds. They proved by their experiments that a group of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen atoms can behave like an element, take the place of an element, and can be exchanged for elements in chemical compounds. Thus the foundation was laid of the doctrine of compound radicals, a doctrine which had a profound influence on the development of chemistry. 

Carbides of metals and other elements have been produced by this approach, including carbides of boron, silicon, titanium, zirconium, hafnium, vanadium, niobium, molybdenum, tungsten, tantalnm, and thorium (Funke, Klementiev, Kosukhin, 1969 Sheppard Wilson, 1972 MacKinnon Wickens, 1973 Chase, 1974 Steiger Wilson, 1974 Swaney, 1974 MacKinnon Renben, 1975). The produced caibide particles are very small their diameter is usually about 20-200 mu. Halides are mixed with hydrocarbons, usually in a ratio H2 Me = 2-30. The gas mixture is heated up in plasma to temperatures of 1300-4000 K time of synthesis exceeds 50 ms. As an example, production of submicron boron carbide powder from gaseous boron trichloride and methane occurs in the strongly endothermic process ... 

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