Defect structures in zirconium diboride powder prepared by self-propagating high-temperature synthesis

A comparative study on the defect structures in zirconium diboride (ZrB2) powder prepared by three different techniques namely a self-propagating high-temperature synthesis (SHS), a replacement reaction process (RRP) and a carbothermic reduction process (CRP) was carried out. It was established that the powder prepared by SHS process has more defect structures due to strongly higher rate of heating and cooling during processing than the powders produced by the replacement reaction and carbothermic reduction techniques. The SHS produced ZrB2 powders had shown better sinterability compared to the powders prepared by the other techniques. This behavior was attributed to the higher defect concentration in the SHS produced ZrB2 powders.