Preparation of dense B4C ceramics by spark plasma sintering of high-purity nanoparticles. Issue 7 (July 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Li, Penghui; Ma, Mengdong; Wu, Yingju; Zhang, Xiang; Chang, Yukai; Zhuge, Zewen; Sun, Lei; Hu, Wentao; Yu, Dongli; Xu, Bo; Zhao, Zhisheng; Chen, Junyun; He, Julong; Tian, Yongjun
• Is Part Of: Journal of the European Ceramic Society. Volume 41:Issue 7(2021)
• Page Start: 3929
• Page End: 3936
• Publication Date: 2021-07
• Subjects: Boron carbide (B4C) -- Spark plasma -- Sintering (SPS) -- Nanopowders -- Densification -- Fracture toughness; Ceramic materials -- Periodicals; Composite materials -- Periodicals; Matériaux céramiques -- Périodiques; Composites -- Périodiques; Ceramic materials; Composite materials; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 666.05
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jeurceramsoc.2021.02.036
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0955-2219

Abstract

Abstract: Boron carbide (B4 C) is an important structural ceramic material, however, the use of this material is limited by its poor sinterability and low fracture toughness. Nano-sized powders have small particle size, high chemical activity and great sintering ability, which can promote the fabrication of the dense B4 C ceramics. Herein, by spark plasma sintering (SPS) homemade high-purity nanopowders, single phase B4 C ceramics with density close to the theoretical value were prepared. Results showed that the best SPS condition was holding at temperature of 1850 °C for 4 min. Under this condition the sample exhibited enhanced mechanical properties including Vickers hardness of 33.9 GPa, fracture toughness of 3.81 MPa m 1/2 and flexure strength of 554.7 MPa. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analysis shows that non-coherent twins exist at the grain boundary instead of amorphous phase or second phase, which further confirms the high purity and high densification of the obtained B4 C ceramics.