Effect of ball to powder ratio on the mechanosynthesis of Re2C and its compressibility

Abstract

"The mechanosynthesis of hexagonal rhenium carbide (Re2C) from the elements is explored as a function of the balls to powder ratio (BPR). Burgios's equation has been used to calculate the accumulated energy (Delta E-accum) and the transferred energy per hit (Delta E-b). To get the complete mechanosynthesis of Re2C several conditions have to be met: BPR > 115: 1, Delta E-accum > 500 kJ/g, and Delta E-b > 2.656 x 10(-14) kJ. The reaction is completed after 30 min of milling if a BPR of 230: 1 is used. The pressure dependence of the unit-cell volume and the lattice parameters have been evaluated by synchrotron radiation diffraction using a diamond anvil cell up to 61(2) GPa. A fit of a 2nd-order Birch-Murnaghan equation of state results in a bulk modulus of B-0 = 374(3) GPa."