SYNTHEISIS OF THE ZrB2-SiC ULTRA-HIGH TEMPERATURE CERAMIC POWDER BY PLASMA SPHEROIDIZATION

The mixture of ZrB2 and SiC powders were used as a raw material. The powders were milled in a planetary ball mill, blended with polyvinyl alcohol, and sieved to 0-125 mu m. After sieving, the powder was spheroidized in Tekna Tek 15 ICP plasma plant. During the spheroidization, the ceramic powder melts and form a compound, containing ZrB2-SiC and rapidly crystallized forming dense spherical shaped powders, suitable for additive manufacturing or sintering techniques.