Nanoparticles Show Promise in High-Temperature Applications

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Scientists at the National Institute of Technology in Puducherry, India, have conducted research on the thermal stability of silicon carbide (SiC) nanoparticles. According to the study, the nanoparticles were created through a high-energy ball milling (HEBM) process, which breaks down micro-sized particles into nano-sized ones. The researchers analyzed the thermal stability of the nanoparticles using thermogravimetric and differential thermal analysis (TGA/DTA) and found that they exhibited reduced thermal stability compared to their larger counterparts.

Key Takeaways:

  • The study analyzed the thermal stability of silicon carbide (SiC) nanoparticles created through a high-energy ball milling (HEBM) process.
  • The nanoparticles were characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) to examine changes in crystallinity and particle morphology.
  • The TGA/DTA analysis demonstrated that nanosized SiC particles exhibited reduced thermal stability, with mass loss increasing from 2% to 4.24% at temperatures from 30°C to 1000°C and a heating rate of 20°C/min in a nitrogen atmosphere.
  • The study concluded that nanosized SiC particles could be useful in high-temperature situations, especially in fields that need materials that are very stable at high temperatures.
  • The research was conducted by Manikandan Sekar, Vinodhkumar Balakrishnan, Vivek Rajavelu, and Mohanram Parthiban at the National Institute of Technology in Puducherry, India.
  • The study was published in the Journal of Engineering on July 28, 2025, and is titled "Investigation of the Thermal Stability of High Energy Ball Milled Sic Nanoparticles Using Thermogravimetric and Differential Thermal Analysis."

Statistics:

  • 60 hours of high-energy ball milling was conducted to break down micro-sized SiC particles into nano-sized ones.
  • The mass loss of nanosized SiC particles ranged from 2% to 4.24% at temperatures from 30°C to 1000°C and a heating rate of 20°C/min in a nitrogen atmosphere.
  • The study used XRD, SEM, and TEM to characterize the nanoparticles and examine changes in crystallinity and particle morphology.
  • The TGA/DTA analysis demonstrated that nanosized SiC particles exhibited reduced thermal stability compared to larger SiC particles.

Sources:

  • NewsRx. Investigators from National Institute of Technology Zero in on Nanoparticles (Investigation of the Thermal Stability of High Energy Ball Milled Sic Nanoparticles Using Thermogravimetric and Differential Thermal Analysis). Journal of Engineering. July 28, 2025; p 1276.
  • Periodica Polytechnica Chemical Engineering. Investigation of the Thermal Stability of High Energy Ball Milled Sic Nanoparticles Using Thermogravimetric and Differential Thermal Analysis. 2025.