Ultrafine ZrB2 powders weresynthesizedinradio-frequencyatmospheric-pressurethermalplasmausingZrCl4, B,andMgasrawmaterials.
The metallothermicreactionwasignitedbythehightemperature flame whenthemixedprecursorswerecarriedintothermalplasma,andthen
propagated withtheexothermicreactionenthalpiesandtheexternalenergysuppliedbyplasma flame. Boththermodynamicanalysisand
experiments wereconducted.Theas-preparedsampleswerecharacterizedbyX-rayDiffraction,TransmissionElectronMicroscopy,andparticle
size analyzer.ResultsshowedthattheobtainedZrB2 powders hadparticlesizeofabout100nmandsurfaceareaof30.75m2/g. Thelaboratory
production ratewasabout300g/h