Metal carbides have been a topic of extensive research in recent years, due to their catalytic potential and interesting mechanical properties. The bulk of this research, however, has been conducted on carbide powders with very little focus on the structural potential of such materials. This project explores a new synthetic process to produce carbides from compressed carbon Bucky paper made from multiwall carbon nanotubes, as well as the mechanical properties of these carbide nanomaterials. Through frit filtration, a composite Bucky paper can be produced that maintains the macroscopic structure of pure carbon Bucky paper but contains a fine metal powder within it. The composite Bucky paper can then be heated to a reactive temperature ranging from 700°C to 1050°C in the presence of a salt eutectic. The resulting material maintains roughly the same shape and dimensions as the starting Bucky paper, while reacting the carbon and metal to form the desired metal carbide. This method was tested with group 4, 5, and 6 transition metals. Finally, the structural and mechanical properties of the material were tested to examine the materials relative hardness, carbon content, and morphology.

Synthesis and properties of carbide Bucky paper

251st National Meeting (2016)

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