The Effect of Mechanical Milling and Temperature to the Carbothermal Reduction Process of Silica Sand

This paper presents the investigation carried out to study the formation of silicon nitride and silicon carbide compound from the reaction of silica sand powders with carbon in nitrogen with 5% hydrogen atmosphere at temperatures between 1350 °C to 1550 °C. The effect of mechanical milled silica sand and different temperature during carbothermal reduction process was determined. The morphology of the synthesis products was characterized using scanning electron microscopy and its composition was determined by elemental and X‐ray phase analysis. The formation of silicon nitride compound was facilitated by using silica sand with distorted structure by mechanical milling method. Further increased on temperature will lead to the formation of silicon carbide compound.