Preparation and characterization of lanthanum carbide encapsulated carbon nanocapsule/lanthanum hexaboride nanocomposites

Abstract LaC 2 @CNC/LaB 6 nanocomposites were prepared using a spark plasma sintering system, and their mechanical properties and the intensity of characteristic La X-rays from the composites were characterized for application as X-ray target material. Using LaB 6 as a binder, we succeeded in producing LaC 2 @CNC/LaB 6 nanocomposites with a bulk density (2.91 g/cm 3 ) and specific electric resistance (3.12 × 10 −  4  Ω cm) through solidification at 2123 K. The fracture bending strength of LaC 2 @CNC/LaB 6 nanocomposites (224 MPa) was 1.5 times larger than that observed for graphite/LaB 6 composites. The most emitted characteristic La Lα X-ray from LaC 2 @CNC/LaB 6 nanocomposites was 7743 counts/mm 2 /s in comparison with 6372 counts/mm 2 /s for graphite/LaB 6 composites.