Production and Characterization of Boron Carbide – Titanium Diboride Ceramics by Spark Plasma Sintering Method

Abstract

This study was carried out to produce and characterize B4C - TiB2 ceramics by spark plasma sintering. Initial B4C and TiB2 powders were mixed in ethanol solution with YSZ balls for 1 hour. Sintering was performed with 5, 10, 15 and 20 volume % TiB2 containing mixtures respectively in disc-shaped graphite dies. The applied pressure was 40 MPa at 1760 °C for 5 minute sintering duration. The improvement of low sinterability and low strength of B4C was investigated as well as strength of flexibility, hardness and fracture toughness. The obtained products were characterized by X-ray diffraction and SEM imaging. The hardness values were measured under 1000 g load and the density values were measured with Archimedes' principle. The 3-point bending tests and modulus of elasticity measurements were also conducted.

Addressing amorphization and transgranular fracture of B4C through Si doping and TiB2 microparticle reinforcing

“…66,67,70-72 TA B L E 2 Properties of representative boron carbides reinforced with particulate SiC, TiB 2 , and ZrB 2 . 10,42,[62][63][64][65][66][67][68][69] Fracture toughness was measured by either indentation, 10,[62][63][64]66,67,69 single-edge notched beam, 65 73 Since TiB 2 , (4.52 g/cm 3 ) has a higher density than boron carbide (2.52 g/cm 3 ), only small amount of TiB 2 (up to 15 wt%) was considered to minimize the increase in density, which is one of the critical factors for armor applications. Dense (>99% TD) B 4 C-TiB 2 disks (> 100 mm diameter) were successfully fabricated at 2150 • C and 24 MPa for 2 h in Ar gas.…”

“…There have been numerous attempts to incorporate TiB 2 as a reinforcement phase into B 4 C ceramics 66,67,70–72 . B 4 C‐TiB 2 composites had been prepared by pressure‐assisted sintering particulate mixtures of B 4 C and TiB 2 66,67 .…”

“…Changes in (A) toughness and (B) hardness of B 4 C composites by adding reinforcements of SiC, TiB 2 , and ZrB 2 10,42,62–69 …”

“…There have been numerous attempts to incorporate TiB 2 as a reinforcement phase into B 4 C ceramics 66,67,70–72 . B 4 C‐TiB 2 composites had been prepared by pressure‐assisted sintering particulate mixtures of B 4 C and TiB 2 66,67 . Reactive sintering had also been utilized to sinter B 4 C‐TiB 2 composites by using reactions between B 4 C, TiO 2 , and carbon.…”

“…(D) An SEM micrograph showing a fracture surface of hot pressed boron carbide. Reproduced from Chen et al, Xie et al, Roy et al with permission 20,25,Changes in (A) toughness and (B) hardness of B 4 C composites by adding reinforcements of SiC, TiB 2 , and ZrB 2 10,42,62-69B 4 C-TiB 2 composites had been prepared by pressureassisted sintering particulate mixtures of B 4 C and TiB 2 66,67. Reactive sintering had also been utilized to sinter B 4 C-TiB 2 composites by using reactions B 4 C, TiO 2 , and carbon.…”