Abstract
Titanium nitride (TiN) whiskers were formed on the outer surface of the graphite tube by heating sodium fluorotitanate (IV) (Na2TiF6) at 1300°C or higher in a stream of nitrogen gas. The shape of whiskers was observed by SEM. The cross section of mostly whiskers was square. It was assumed that these whiskers grew in the ‹100› direction by Vapor-Solid (VS) mechanism. The lattice constant of TiN obtained in this work was determined by XRD as 0.4243-0.4246nm, which was larger than 0.4242nm for that of stoichiometric TiN. This fact showed that TiN obtained in this study contained a trace of carbon. A thermodynamic interpretation of the formation of TiN is considered. It is found that the existence of C, NaF and Al2O3 in a stream of N2 gas is necessary for the formation of TiN from Na2TiF6.
