Abstract
AlZrC
2 was synthesized using a direct solid-state method. Various types of carbon were used as starting materials together with aluminum zirconium carbide powders. The effect of different carbon on the formation of Al–Zr–C compounds formation were investigated. The atomic arrangement of carbon affects the Al–Zr–C compounds formation, i.e., crystalline carbon facilitates Zr
2Al
3C
5 formation while glassy carbon facilitates AlZrC
2 formation. High purity AlZrC
2 was prepared from the appropriate mol ratio of Al:ZrC:glassy carbon by heating in vacuum at 1600
°C for 1
h. However, a little amount of Zr
2Al
3C
5 still formed due to graphitization of glassy carbon at high temperature. Glassy carbon from sugar showed a lower degree of crystallization (graphitization) than glassy carbon from phenolic resin. Finally, the obtained two phase specimen was ground and heat treated again using pulse electric current sintering to produce single AlZrC
2.