Abstract
The surface properties and the surface-treatments of zirconium boride and titanium boride with cetyl alcohol were investigated through X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, X-ray diffractometry, scanning electron microscopy and pyrolysis. The followings were found: (1) The surfaces of borides were covered by oxide films. (2) The crystallographic structure of substrate, particle size and the shape or agglomeration of the particles were not affected by the surface-treatment. (3) The pyrolysis of the surface-treated borides has taken place in the temperature range of 300-500°C and the main pyrolysis product was perceived to be cetene. This trend is similar to the pyrolysis of the surface-treated ZrO2 and Ti02 with cetyl alcohol.
Accordingly, the surface-treatment of borides with alcohol was perceived to be performed by the dehydration-condensation of alcohol with the surface hydroxide of the oxide film formed on borides.
