Mechanochemical processing of non-oxide systems with highly covalent bonds

This chapter discusses mechanochemical processing in nonoxide compounds with covalent bonds and explains how the technique could overcome processing complexity in the system of interest. Two types of processing are described, in situ and ex situ. The former is limited to mechanochemically induced exothermal synthesis of powder particles from elements, followed, if necessary by self-sustaining reaction. The latter is applied to as-synthesized non-oxide powders in order to improve their reactivity/sinterability or to stimulate the reaction during the subsequent heat treatment or consolidation. Titanium or silicon carbides and nitrides, sialon (nano)powder synthesis and processing by high-energy milling are described.