INTL. SYMP. ON SYNTHESIS AND PROPERTIES OF NANOMATERIALS FOR FUTURE ENERGY DEMANDS

The technological applications for newly developed nanoparticles are continuously increasing. Nevertheless, their reduced size, forming colloidal suspensions, may facilitate the transport and bioaccumulation in the environment. The particular properties of each nanoparticle and their interactions with the dissolved organic matter (DOM) and the living organisms are important issues in this scenario. The landfill waste disposal method is still dominant worldwide. In the landfill, the nanoparticles can undergo phenomena such as leaching, agglomeration, flocculation, complexation, adsorption, dissolution and neoformations. Among the concerns, it is recognized that the nanoparticles behave as carriers for the contaminants in the environment which strongly impacts the water resources. This research is focused on the development of a mathematical model able to predict the transport of TiO₂, SiO₂, ZnO, and CuO nanoparticles and their mutual interaction within soils commonly used as protective layers of controlled landfill for municipal waste disposal. A combined methodology based on numerical procedures using inverse method principles and controlled column experiments were carried out. Firstly, the model parameters were determined and secondly, the model was validated by confronting numerical and experimental data. The model formulated new ways to address the interactions phenomena of colloidal suspensions of nanoparticles percolating through landfill soils protective layers. It has been found that SiO₂ nanoparticles presented the strongest deleterious effect on the efficiency of the soil protective layers while ZnO plays a positive role, promoting flocculation and complexation with soil particles and enhances their effectiveness.

Calcium phosphate (CaP) materials have received major attention in the biomedical field during the last decades, mainly for their compositional resemblance with the mineral phase of bone and their biological properties [1]. Nevertheless, the drawbacks associated with the low mechanical properties, injectability, and biodegradability of these materials have paved the way to design biocomposites for advanced applications [2]. Another challenge in the conception of CaP biomaterials is their use as a bone substitute or drug delivery system for the local treatment of bone diseases [3]. Furthermore, the interaction mechanisms at the interface between CaP and the surrounding biological environments are still far from being fully understood.
The present work focuses on (i) the precipitation of biological CaP materials under various synthesis conditions and (ii) the formulation of biocomposites based on a biomimetic calcium phosphate cement (CPC), loaded with a polysaccharide (PS) and a broad antibacterial spectrum antibiotic. The effects of PS and drug incorporation on the CPC physicochemical and rheological characteristics, as well on the in vitro drug release, were assessed.
The binding/release experiments performed with various biomolecules and precipitated apatite crystals indicated that adsorption from dilute solutions could be described as an ion-exchange process, involving the functional groups of the molecules and the ionic groups at the apatite surface. The interaction appears to be reactive for concentrated solutions, leading to a dissolution-re-precipitation phenomenon. A correlation between the physicochemical and surface properties of the specimens and their loading/release capacity was established.
The combination of the polymer and the drug with the reference cement did not affect its structure and composition. Increases of the compressive strength, as well as improvement of cohesion and injectability, however, were noticed. The release tests performed in the sodium chloride medium showed prolonged release profiles over several weeks; the release rate was dependent on cement composition.
The understanding of the interfacial phenomena of apatite materials and the control of the physicochemical and mechanical properties of bio-composites based calcium phosphate cements promote them as attractive candidates for biomedical applications.

ABSTRACT:
The high demand for energy due to global population boost and industrialization is currently satisfied by coal, natural gas and fossil fuels. This results in their high prices and also impacts negatively on the environment [1]. Photovoltaic technologies is believed to hold the solution to the challenge of pollution and global warming. Compound semiconductor nanomaterials have emerged as new building blocks for the construction of light energy harvesting assemblies, and have opened up new ways to utilize renewable energy resources. Earth-abundant ternary nanomaterials have attracted considerable attention for eco-friendly and low-cost solar cells [2].
This study reports the synthesis of Cu2SnS3, a ternary metal sulphides nanoparticles, with light absorbing properties, from earth abundant elements. The compound, classified as I-II-VI semiconductor, possesses interesting optoelectronic properties such as p-type conductivity, high chemical stability, high absorption coefficient of about 105 cm-1 and band gap of 1.1-1.7eV [3]. The method devised for the synthesis of these ternary nanoparticles was the solvothermal decomposition of dual single source precursors in oleylamine, using cheap, readily obtainable and easy to handle dithiocarbamate complexes [4]. This route afforded monodispersed nanopartcles of different sizes and morphologies. The optical characterization and electrochemical studies showed that the synthesized Cu2SnS3 are capable of converting solar radiation to electrical energy.

Materials composed of components that have different properties should have multiple functions. Various composite particles with magnetism and X-ray absorption abilities have been developed. Based on the viewpoint for multi-functionalization of materials, particles containing gold (Au) and gadolinium compounds (GdC) will act as both the X-ray contrast agent and the MRI contrast agent. In our previous work [1], the silica (SiO₂)-coating of metallic Au nanoparticles has been performed by using a modified Stober method. Our other previous works have proposed methods for GdC-coating particles such as the SiO₂ [2] and SiO₂-coated quantum dot [3,4]. The present work proposes a method for preparing multi-layered core-shell particles composed of the core of Au, the first shell of SiO₂, and the second shell of GdC (Au/SiO₂/GdC), which is a combination of the various coating techniques developed in our previous works [1-4]. Imaging abilities based on both X-ray absorption and magnetic resonances of the multi-layered core-shell particle colloid solution were also studied in the present work.
The Au nanoparticles were produced by reducing hydrogen tetrachloroaurate (III) trihydrate with trisodium citrate dihydrate. SiO₂-coated Au (Au/SiO₂) nanoparticles were fabricated by a sol-gel reaction in the presence of the Au nanoparticles. Multi-layered Au/SiO₂/GdC nanoparticles were fabricated by a homogeneous precipitation reaction in the presence of Au/SiO₂ nanoparticles.
The Au nanoparticles, the Au/SiO₂ nanoparticles, and the multilayered Au/SiO₂/GdC nanoparticles had average sizes of 15.5, 38.0, and 43.8 nm, respectively. The computed tomography (CT) value of the Au/SiO₂/GdC colloid solution containing 4.3x10^-2 M Au was 606 HU: Its converted CT value (CT value divided by Au concentration) was 1.4x10⁴ HU M^-1. The longitudinal relaxation rate (r1) of the Au/SiO₂/GdC colloid solution was 2.3 mM^-1 s^-1.
In conclusion, the Au/SiO₂/GdC colloid solution was found to function as the X-ray contrast agent and the MRI contrast agent.

Nanocomposites are materials of the twenty-first century [1]. Because nanocomposites offer the possibility of combining many desired properties, they are expanding their potentials in aerospace applications and in future space missions. Due to its mechanical, thermal, electrical, chemical and biodegradable properties, and low weight requirements, boron nitride based nanocomposites are the most prospective for use in aerospace applications. Therefore, boron based composite powders of new architecture will increase the spectrum of properties of nano-enabled composites. The composite powders of new architecture are produced under effect of concentrated light in an optical furnace for aerospace applications.
Concentrated light heating of an optical furnace has a number of advantages such as high heating and cooling rates, versatility, ability to adjust temperature profile along each axis, and adaptability to maximum operating temperatures and environments. Moreover, the high-flux optical furnace presents one of cleanest energy sources available for nanotechnology and this technique is appropriate for both conducting and non-conducting materials [1].
Transformation of boron nitride and boron powders with 25 wt. % indium, aluminum, coper, iron or nickel added in flow of nitrogen was considered. This demonstrated the effect of temperature distribution and temperature gradients within an experimental camera on architecture, phase composition and other properties of obtained powdered materials. The presence of a catalyst in boron nitride powder during transformation under effect of concentrated light promotes formation of nanostructures.
Formation of a new architecture of nanostructures can be explained in framework of “gaseous model” which was based on the evolution of the bubble during heating in an optical furnace [2]. The bursting of these bubbles results in the formation of graphene-like structures and nano-petal structures. The stepwise transformation of bubbles of appropriate chemical composition leads to nanotube formation because of their upwards pulling by heated gases. Fullerene-like particles can also have complicated “fish-eye” (“core shell”) structure as a result of the segregation of the transparent BN shell with the H₃BO₃ layer on the surface around crystalline InN.
Nanopowders prepared in an optical furnace under concentrated light heating have complicated gradient or layered structures. According Raman, AES and FTIR studies, the surface of all powders is composed of BN. XRD disclosed pure amorphous boron inside the particles. Gradient transformation of pure boron to BN in the framework of one particle, as well as a layered nanostructure, was observed by the TEM study.

BaTiO3 is a well-known ferroelectric material with perovskite structure. The Sr doping allows a fine tuning of the functional properties, including the transition temperature, the dielectric constant and the pyroelectric coefficient. Another way to tune the properties is to control the size of the crystalline grains.
Here we present results on structural, dielectric and pyroelectric properties of some BaTiO3-based materials, showing how the properties changes as the structure changes from bulk ceramics, to epitaxial films and nanocrystals. Sr-doped BaTiO3 ceramics, in the 20-40 % range, show interesting pyroelectric properties, making them attractive for infrared detection. The dielectric properties changes significantly with the Sr doping, as proven by the results of wide-band dielectric spectroscopy. The properties changes dramatically when going to epitaxial thin films, with lower values for dielectric constant but larger leakage currents. Finally, preliminary results on nanometer scale BaTiO3 crystals are presented.

The nanostructured materials on the basis of carbon have a complex of unique properties that allows their application to production of various mechanisms and devices in the modern equipment. One of the perspective methods of synthesis of carbon nanostructures is electrochemical synthesis in ionic melts at high temperatures.
The possibility of synthesis of elementary carbon from the carbonate melts containing lithium carbonate was shown by the first author. In the second work, electrochemical decomposition of carbon dioxide in an equimolar KCl-NaCl melt under an excessive pressure of gas was shown. The electrochemical method of synthesis of carbon nanostructures was developed in 1995 by Hsu with support from coworkers. This method, in comparison with other methods of synthesis of carbon nanostructures, is possible in the condensed phase at rather low temperatures. In this work, scientific bases of electrochemical synthesis of nanostructures, on the basis of carbon in the melted mixes of carbonates of potassium, sodium and lithium, are presented. We studied the electroreduction process of carbonate ions on various electrode materials by methods of cyclic voltammetry and chronopotentiometry. Cathode deposits consisted of C₆₀ and C₇₀ fullerenes, carbon nanotubes, and carbon nanoparticles. They were received by Galvano static electrolysis of carbonate melts, under excess pressure of CO₂ up to 12-15 atmospheres in the range of the current density of 0.25÷2.0 A/cm² at 600-800°C temperature. The SEM methods include: the laser analyzer of the size of the particles, low-temperature adsorption of argon, carried out characterization of morphology, the size, and the specific surface of the synthesized nanostructures on the basis of carbon.
This work is carried out with financial support of the RFFR, project 19-03-00606, and the project of the Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation 4.7481.2017

In the modelling of magnetic properties of magnetic materials, four energy terms need to be considered: (i) the Zeeman term, due the applied field, (ii) the term due to the magnetostic energy, (iii) the term due to the magnetocrystalline anisotorpy, and (iv) the term due to exchange energy. These four terms are considered in micromagnetic models.
In the present study, different formulations for the exchange energy terms are compared [1].
The Heisenberg exchange interaction is usually described by a scalar product, which results in a term depending on the cosine function. The approximation of the 1- cosine function by a Taylor series gives a polynomial of order two, since other terms of the Taylor series expansion are neglected.
Replacing a cosine funstion by a polynomial of order two, however, overestimates the exchange energy contribution significantly.
It is shown that existence of antiferromagnetism can reduce the energy of system.
Thus, the exchange energy term needs to consider all other neighbours because they can reduce the energy of the system.
Thus, the exchange energy is more properly described by a Fourier series than by a polynomial of order two.

An unintended consequence of the drive towards replacing petro-based sources in the transport sector and the subsequent growth of the biodiesel industry is the co-production of large amounts of crude glycerol (C₃H₈O₃) which constitutes the main by-product of the transesterification process [1-3]. A promising solution is its steam reforming since every mol of C₃H₈O₃ can theoretically produce 7 mol of H₂. Thus, research efforts are directed towards the discovery of cheap (i.e., transition metal based), highly active and stable catalysts. In the work presented herein, a series of Ce-La-xCu, (x=3, 5, 7, 10, 20 at.%) catalysts were evaluated for the glycerol steam reforming reaction in the 400-750^oC temperature range. Stability tests were conducted at 650^oC for 12h. The catalysts were prepared by coupling microwave radiation with the sol-gel method and BET, XRD, Raman, NH₃-TPD, CO₂-TPD, H₂-TPR, SEM, HAADF-STEM and XPS. These were used in order to derive information regarding their textural, morphological and physic-chemical properties to elucidate their effect on catalytic performance. The results obtained show that C₃H₈O₃ conversion of over 85% can be achieved with values for H₂ selectivity and approaches the yield of the thermodynamically predicted ones. The liquid effluents produced contained differing amounts of acetol, acetone, acetic acid, acrolein, allyl alcohol and acetaldehyde depending on the reaction temperature. Time-on-stream results, which were undertaken at more severe conditions, showed that all catalysts maintain quite a stable performance.

In addition to ballistic penetration performance and blast survivability, weight has been one of the key drivers for modern armour system design [1-5]. Excessive weight of traditional metallic armour not only affects armour vehicles’ fuel efficiency, but also affects their deployability and mobility. Hybrid armour systems, made of ceramic strike face with metallic or composite backing, deliver an efficient solution by combining the light weight, high ballistic resistance of ceramics with ductility of the backing. This confines the ceramic fragment and absorbs the kinetic energy of the projectile.
The primary approach to combine the ceramic strike face and backing is the use of adhesives. Knowledge of the influence of the adhesive properties on target damage, deformation and the ballistic resistance is of importance for composite armor design [1]. Optimization of adhesive selection and design could potentially increase survivability and reduce weight of ceramic-based armour systems. This study investigated the effect of adhesive layers on the ballistic performance of ceramic based armour, which was adhesively bonded onto a Kevlar composite backing. The influence of two classes of commonly used adhesive systems, a polyurethane and an epoxy-based adhesive, as well as that of a nanomaterial-modified polyurethane adhesive were investigated. Polyurethane based adhesive systems are more ductile than epoxy, but they often exhibit lower stiffness and strengths. Epoxy systems, on the other hand, are less ductile, but the usage of epoxy could lead to much improved acoustic impendence matching with ceramics. This allows increased energy transmission from the ceramic to the adhesive; hence the ceramic is less likely to fail [2-4]. The newly developed nanomaterial-modified polyurethane adhesive allowed for enhancement of stiffness, strength and acoustic impedance without significantly sacrificing other properties such as toughness and ductility of the base adhesive [5].
This study demonstrated that adhesive properties, in particular ductility and acoustic impedance, had a significant impact on ballistic performance. In spite of the advantages of the studied epoxy system of better stiffness, strength and acoustic impedance matching over polyurethane, the ceramic armour bonded with the epoxy was prone to disbonding at ceramic/Kevlar interface. Ballistic performance is also reduced as a result of low toughness and ductility. The effect of adhesive thickness was also found to be important for ballistic performance in past studies [6-8]. Thus, with regards to performance under ballistic impact, it was also investigated that increased elongation, along with the increase of adhesive thickness did not enhance multi-hit ballistic performance for the studied configuration. The usage of the nanomaterial-modified adhesive, with increased stiffness, strength, and adequate toughness, was promising to enhance the ballistic performance of ceramic-based armour.

In this work, we present a method for simple preparation of magnetic iron oxide nanopowders by electroerosion dispersion (EED) of carbon steel in water. Magnetic nanoparticles (MNP) have attracted considerable interest in many fields of research and applied science due to their impressive properties. In the past, in order to fix biomedical issues, the development of MNPs has been promoted. For technical applications, such as wastewater treatment and absorption of electromagnetic waves, the existing synthesis approaches are too expensive and/or the producible quantities are too low. We describe the synthesis method, the laboratory installation and discuss the structural, chemical and electromagnetic properties of the syn-thetized EED powders, as well as their applicability for microwave absorption compared to other available ferrite powders. The electromagnetic properties of the EED powder allow microwave absorption values like that of hexaferrite powders and values considerably larger than that of the commercially available iron oxide powder: Magsilica. The production of the EED powder, however, is much simpler. Modern applications with high-frequency electromagnetic fields (satellite-TV, mobile funk, WLAN technologies, radar for traffic and aerial supervision, microwave heating, drying, sintering, up to automotive and medical applications) require very low-cost absorbing materials. This allows reduction of the electromagnetic radiation exposure on biological systems, assures the safe operation of instruments and equipment (prevention of wireless signal leakages) or facilitates modern communication applications [1].

A subject of recent interest nowadays is electric and hybrid cars. Most of the high-efficiency motors use magnets in the rotors because this saves the current used in the magnetization of the soft magnetic material. The IE4 European efficiency specification (Super Premium Efficiency) also request motors with magnets in order to achieve the specifications of the manufacturers. Thus, it is forecasted that the market of magnets for electric motors should increase considerably in the forthcoming years.
The electric vehicles industry put emphasis on the optimization of batteries and on the reduction of the weight of the cars. The increase of efficiency of the motors, however, has been much neglected, especially from the material point-of-view.
The idea presented here in this paper is that both the soft magnetic material and the hard magnetic material need to be optimized at the same time [1]. For example, by using a better soft magnetic material, the losses are reduced, and also, less heat is generated. Thus, a magnet without Dysprosium can be used since optimized electric steels are used. The recent motors designed for electric vehicles can work at very high frequencies. In this case, resistivity of the magnets is an issue. Axial flux machines are in development nowadays. Some of the prototypes of axial flux machines use strontium ferrite magnets. One reason for the choice of ferrites is that the resistivity of ferrites is much lower than in the case of NdFeB or SmCo magnets.
The automotive industry is a mass production industry and requests cheap materials. Thus, there is pressure for avoiding expensive magnets which use Dysprosium or Terbium. Most of the manufacturers of electric motors, however, need magnets with high coercivity which is specified in the motor design. In these motors, irreversible reversal of magnetization of even parts of the grains of the magnets is a big problem, resulting in reduction of motor performance. This motivates the choice of high coercivity NdPrFeB type magnets. SmCoFeCuZr would have excellent performance, but the high cost of cobalt makes its use avoidable.
In this paper, we discuss how to model the losses in soft magnetic materials (electric steels) and also on the magnets. One relevant result of the modeling is that rotors with surface mounted magnets expose the magnet to high fields and strong eddy currents. Thus, buried magnets are a better option. Several types of magnet configurations have been tested as the V type used in the Toyota Prius and Tesla Model 3, the double V used in the GM Chevy Volt and the Delta type used by the Nissan Leaf. Many manufacturers have opted for the V type, but the concept used by BMW i3, the Hybrid Synchronous motors, is a possibility. The motor of the Tesla Model 3 makes use of the Halbach effect, and the benefits of using the Halbach array will be discussed. The Halbach array allows the soft magnetic material (the electrical steel) to be magnetized at the fields near the magnetic saturation.

Magnetic coupling can appear in samples with nanocrystalline structure, when two phases of different characteristics are mixed.
In other, words, the coupling can happen when there are two phases: one magnetically hard and other magnetically soft.
It is discussed the possiblity of occurrence of either, exchange coupling or magnetostatic coupling in nanocrystalline magnetic materials. Exchange coupling requires coherent lattice between the two phases. However, magnetostatic coupling can happen even for incoherent interfaces.
As magnetostatic coupling is more general, and can happen in any situation of lattice coherency or incoherency, many of the observed coupling phenomena are due to magnetostatic interactions and not to exchange coupling.
Criteria for occurrence of magnetostic coupling are discussed. Both phases should be single domain size, in order to happen magnetostatic coupling.

One of the important tasks of modern materials science is the development of new composites with improved functional properties. Theoretical and experimental backgrounds of synthesis of a new class of nanocomposite materials based on a metal matrix are substantiated (iron, aluminum) with TiC nanofibers as the disperse phase. A new combined method for producing metal-based (iron, aluminum) composites is considered, including powder metallurgy and surface nanostructuring of the dispersed phase. The following stages of material synthesis are investigated: (1) preparation of a porous metal matrix, (2) ALD-assisted surface structuring of the porous metal matrix by TIC nanostructures 1-50 nm in size, and (3) pressing and sintering of samples to produce solid metal composite materials with TIC nanofibers in the bulk. This material can be presented in the form of "frame in the frame", i.e. a metal frame pierced by the frame of TiC nanowires. It is shown that despite the presence of residual porosity, the properties of the obtained samples are comparable with the properties of the mold-produced best steel grades containing expensive dopants. In the future, this approach will solve the problem of creating a new generation of nanostructured metal composites with improved mechanical properties for various fields of engineering (mechanical engineering, engine building).

The growing scientific-technological progress in modern civilization causes actuality of producing construction materials which can successfully work in conditions of high temperature, radiation, pressure, speed and chemically aggressive environment. Such extreme conditions can withstand very few types of materials and among them ceramic materials are in the first place.Corundum ceramics is the most useful material for creation of constructive nodes and products of various purposes for its low cost,easy accessibility to raw materials and good combination of physical-chemical properties.

Batteries are now seen as an essential subject for renewable energies. This is because the wind and sun are intermittent energy sources.
Europe, the United States and other countries are significantly increasing the production of wind energy. Also, solar energy generation needs batteries because, at night, energy production is not possible.
The electric energy produced by the wind and sun can be used for moving electric cars. This avoids petroleum importation which is a relevant issue for many countries. European environmental specifications should increase the market of hybrid and electric cars. The market of hybrid cars with cheap batteries, as the 48V mild hybrid vehicles market, is also expanding.
At the present time, hybrid cars present a better relationship with cost-benefit than full electric cars. This situation can change if the price of batteries continues to reduce [1].
Hybrid trucks have been considered as an alternative for the near future. It is difficult to make a full electric truck due to the high weight of batteries that need transportation with the vehicle.
Several main types of batteries are available. Nowadays, Lithium ion batteries, such as NMC (nickel-manganese-cobalt)are dominant. The cars of Tesla motors use NCA (nickel-cobalt-aluminium). Due to the high cost of cobalt, there is a big pressure for reducing cobalt usage in NMC batteries. This has been achieved by replacing cobalt by nickel.
China developed LiFePO₄ batteries, and these batteries have the big advantage of being environmentally friendly. The chinese electric car industry, however, is also moving to NMC batteries.
Other types of batteries, such as Na based or Al based batteries, continue to develop. Progress in batteries is slow due to the need of a long testing period for new products.
Vanadium redox batteries have been considered for trucks. Vanadium demand has increased, generating a peak of price. Application of vanadium in VRB redox batteries, however,is still quite limited. Most of the VRB batteries are prototypes. It is said that 90% of the market of Vanadium is for microalloyed steels, where FeV can easily be replaced by FeNb.
Solid State batteries are in development and some companies are making very optimistic predictions. The feasibility of commercial solid state batteries, however, continues to be a subject of discussion. An important subject of study is the quick charging of batteries.

Combustion synthesis is a novel low-cost, rapid, and energy-saving method for the production of high-temperature materials. The synthesis of products via this method is based on the formation of the desired compounds by making use of the exothermic reactions between the starting elemental powders. In this study, the synthesis of MoSi₂-SiC composites from the starting powder mixture of Mo+2Si and Si+C has been investigated. XRD, SEM-EDS, and Vickers microhardness tests have been used to characterize the products. The effect of Mo+2Si/Si+C weight ratio on the intensity of the reaction, as well as the formation of the products, was studied. It was found out that the desired products were formed in Mo+2Si powder mixtures containing 10wt.%Si+C samples. Using higher amounts of Si+C resulted in incomplete reactions which gave rise to remains of unreacted powder particles in the product microstructure. The MoSi₂-10wt.%SiC composite showed the highest values of mircrohardness

According to the Steinmetz hysteresis law, the power losses P vary as function of the induction B with an exponent n, where n typically is 1.6. This results in the formula P= k B^n, where k is a constant. However, the exponent n can be different according to the evaluated material. From theoretical considerations, it is expected an exponent n=2, because the Power losses are given approximately by 4 B H, for the case of square hysteresis. Here, H is the applied field. As B is the product of the permeability times the applied field H, then theoretically is expected P = K B^2.
Reasons for n be lower than 2 are discussed. It is presented a model able to explain exponent n lower than 2. A better understanding of the Steinmetz law is useful for improvements of models able to predict the heating of steel laminations used in electric motors.

At this stage of the development of industrial nanostructure compounds, materials containing carbides and borides of metals, especially zirconium ZrB₂ZrC, are widely used composite materials of nanostructures.
The purpose of the work is to study the physical and chemical bases of high-temperature carbide production processes and borides of the specified system, which will give a chance to perform a minimum number of experiments.
A full thermodynamic analysis was performed to determine the conditions for the formation of boride and zirconium carbide in the Zr - B - O - C system.
A complete thermodynamic analysis was performed in a vacuum for the reactions 2ZrO₂ + B₂O₃ + 8C = ZrB₂ + ZrC + 7CO.
On the basis of theoretically obtained results, it is possible to experimentally obtain a composite material ZrB₂ / ZrC.

At this stage of the development of industrial nanostructure compounds, materials containing carbides and borides of metals, especially zirconium ZrB₂/ZrC, are widely used composite materials of nanostructures.
The purpose of the work is to study the physical and chemical bases of high-temperature carbide production processes and borides of the specified system, which will give a chance to perform a minimum number of experiments.
A full thermodynamic analysis (FTA) of the interaction of ZrO₂ and B₂O₃ with carbon under a vacuum (0.0001 atm.) has been conducted.
The initial content of the components correspond properly to the stoichiometry of the following reactions:
ZrO₂ + B₂O₃ + 5C = ZrB₂ + 5СО (1)
2ZrO₂ + B₂O₃ + 8C = ZrB₂ + ZrC + 7СО (2)
The main results of this research are presented as FTA diagrams (dependence of the content of components on temperature in the range of 700-1600 K).
Based on the results of the provided analyses, an experimental research on the production of composite materials was carried out.