Reactions of metal carbides in different atmospheres

In this investigation the oxidation behavior of zirconium carbide and titanium carbide is studied. Non-isothermal measurements using simultaneous thermal analysis (STA) with varying atmospheres, heating rates and particle sizes have been carried out. These allowed the characterization of the oxidation reaction of zirconium- and titanium carbides during combustion. Furthermore, the investigation revealed that measurements carried out under carbon dioxide show a different oxidation behavior than those carried out under air, pure oxygen or atmospheres with different carbon dioxide content. Therefore thermodynamic calculations using a shrinking core model (SC-model) in Mathematica were applied to the TGA-curves, to find the kinetic parameters of the reactions.