Non-isothermal oxidation of ceramic nanocomposites using the example of Ti-Si-C-N powder: Kinetic analysis method

A method of kinetic analysis applicable to non-isothermal oxidation processes of ceramic nanocomposites is presented using Ti-Si-C-N powder as the substrate. The nanoparticle size and phase composition were determined using high-resolution transmission electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction (XRD). Thermogravimetric measurements were carried out for powder samples in dry air in the temperature range 298-1770 K. The following heating rates were applied: 3, 5, 10, 20 K min(-1). Mass spectrometry was used to analyze gaseous oxidation products and solid products were identified by the XRD technique. The Coats-Redfern equation was applied for the kinetic analysis. For each stage of the oxidation kinetic models, the best accuracy was achieved using a series of criteria, and then the A and E parameters of the Arrhenius equations were estimated. Both linear regression and artificial neural networks were applied in testing kinetic models. (C) 2008 Acta Materialia Inc. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.