In this work, a Zr-La-B-C(O)-based precursor-derived ceramic system is spark plasma sintered at 1600°C for 10 min. Chemical and phase analysis of the sintered ceramic reveals nanocrystalline ultra-high temperature (UHT) phases of ZrB 2 , ZrC, and La 2 Zr 2 O 7 embedded in a glassy carbon matrix. A comprehensive evaluation of mechanical properties and thermal expansion characteristics correlates well with the presence of phases. Depth-sensing nanoindentation exemplifies high elastic recovery of 91% typically seen in glassy carbons. The hardness and Young's modulus measured to be ∼4.5 and ∼29.5 GPa respectively, seem to be governed mainly by the presence of glassy carbon, and secondarily by stiff B-C bonds and the UHT phases. The linear coefficient of thermal expansion measured from 130°C to 1550°C is ∼7.9 × 10 −6 K −1 and the thermal expansion behaviour is found to be strongly driven by the constituent UHT phases.
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