Synthesis and characterization of magnesium nitride powder formed by Mg direct reaction with N sub(2)

Mg sub(3)N sub(2) powder of high quality has been synthesized by the direct nitridation reaction of Mg powder with N sub(2) gas in 1.0 l/min for 60 min at a temperature between 650 C and 800 C. Thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA) and differential thermal analysis (DTA) were employed to investigate the thermal nitridation behavior of Mg powder. X-ray diffraction (XRD) indicates that Mg sub(3)N sub(2) powder has a cubic structure with a lattice constant a = 0.997 nm. The scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images of Mg sub(3)N sub(2) powder show that Mg sub(3)N sub(2) powder is of a rod-like structure. The Fourier transformed infrared (FTIR) spectra indicate a high quality of the Mg sub(3)N sub(2) powder fabricated in this way.