Study of formation behavior of ZrC in the Cu–Zr–C system during combustion synthesis

ZrC particles were prepared in situ via self-propagating high-temperature synthesis (SHS) reaction with the Cu–Zr–C elemental powder mixtures. The reaction behavior and formation route for synthesizing ZrC in the Cu–Zr–C system were investigated. With increasing Cu contents, the adiabatic temperatures , reaction temperatures and ZrC particle sizes of the SHS products were greatly decreased. The formation of ZrC particles could be ascribed by the dissolution of C into the Cu–Zr melt and the precipitation of ZrC. Cu plays an important role in controlling the reaction behavior and morphology of products, it not only inhibits the growth of ZrC particles, but also participates and promotes the SHS reaction.