Gel‐casting process‐derived 3D‐interconnected porous carbon/B4C preform for reaction‐bonded boron carbide composites. Issue 2 (29th October 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Xu, Yufeng; Ru, Hongqiang; Long, Haibo; Zhao, Jing; Wang, Wei
• Other Names: Smeacetto Federico guestEditor.; Kusnezoff Mihails guestEditor.
• Is Part Of: International journal of applied ceramic technology. Volume 15:Issue 2(2018)
• Page Start: 409
• Page End: 417
• Publication Date: 2017-10-29
• Subjects: boron carbide -- gel‐casting -- infiltration -- mechanical properties -- refined structure; Ceramics -- Periodicals; Ceramics -- Technological innovations -- Periodicals; 620.1405
• DOI: 10.1111/ijac.12806
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1546-542X

Abstract

Abstract: A novel kind of 3D interconnected porous carbon‐bonded B4 C preform with flexural strength of about 20MPa is fabricated by gel‐casting method. As the control, the B4 C/C preforms via molding‐produced method are fabricated. The B4 C/C preforms own the same carbon content and almost the same porosity with different molding method. Compared with the conventional compression molding‐produced B4 C/C preform, the 3D‐interconnected porous carbon‐bonded boron carbide preforms afford three‐fold advantages in the fabrication of reaction‐bonded boron carbide (RBBC) composite via the liquid silicon infiltration (LSI) process, including induced formation of continuous SiC‐bonded boron carbide skeleton structure, a reduction in the size of residual silicon, and prevented the coarsening of ceramic grains as well. As a result, the RBBC composite fabricated by gel‐casting appears as a more refined structure resulting in enhanced mechanical properties: the Vickers hardness, flexural strength, and fracture toughness of I‐GC composites fabricated from 3D‐interconnected porous carbon/B4 C preforms are 19.4 ± 1.3 GPa, 389 ± 17 MPa, and 4.37 ± 0.1 MPa·m 1/2, respectively, which are statistically higher than those of RBBC fabricated by the conventional compression molding‐produced B4 C/C preform.