CARBIDE FORMATION FROM A MONTMORILLONITE-POLYACRYLONITRILE INTERCALATION COMPOUND BY CARBOTHERMAL REDUCTION.

The montmorillonite-polyacrylonitrile (PAN) intercalation compound was heated in Ar flow for the application of clay-organic complexes to the preparation of carbide through the carbothermal reduction. beta -SiC was formed at 1200 degree C and both alpha -SiC and beta -SiC were detected above 1300 degree C. SiO//2 component was reduced without forming any crystalline compounds, while Al//2O//3 component formed Mg-Al-O compound. Compared with the reactions of a montmorillonite-carbon mixture, it was clarified that the presence of PAN in the interlayer space led to the formation of alpha -SiC and suppressed the crystallization of oxides.