Reactive Sintering of Boron Carbide Based Ceramics by SPS

Abstract

Boron carbide is a highly covalent non-oxide ceramic with a high melting temperature. Therefore, the densification of boron carbide via a thermally activated process is extremely hard and requires additional driving forces. In addition to searching alternative production techniques for boron carbide, the production of boron carbide composites is one of the most interested subjects. In this study, BxC-TiB2-SiC ceramic was produced through an in-situ reaction between B4C and Ti3SiC2 and excess amorphous boron using spark plasma sintering method at 1600°C-1800°C. XRD and microstructure analysis of the sintered sample show that boron rich boron carbide phase is present in the sintered specimen, which did not develop a continuous matrix through the sample. The three phases present in ceramics formed agglomerate throughout the microstructure and did not show homogeneous distribution.

Keywords

• Boron carbide
• Composite
• Reactive sintering

Bor Karbür Tabanlı Seramiklerin Reaktif Spark Plazma Sinterleme ile Üretimi

Öz

Bor karbür, yüksek ergime sıcaklığına sahip, oldukça kovalent, oksit dışı bir seramiktir. Bu nedenle, bor karbürün termal olarak aktive edilmiş işlem yoluyla yoğunlaştırılması son derece zordur ve ekstra itici güçler gerektirir. Bor karbür için alternatif üretim tekniklerinin araştırılmasının yanı sıra bor karbür kompozitlerin üretimi de en çok ilgi duyulan konulardan biridir. Bu çalışmada, 1600°C-1800°C'de kıvılcım plazma sinterleme yöntemi kullanılarak B4C ve Ti3SiC2 (ve ekstra amorf bor) arasındaki in-situ reaksiyonla BxC-TiB2-SiC seramikleri üretilmiştir. Yoğunlaştırılmış numunelerin XRD ve mikro yapı analizi, bor bakımından zengin bor karbür fazın numune boyunca sürekli matris geliştirmediğini göstermektedir. Seramiklerde bulunan üç faz, mikro yapı boyunca aglomera oluşturdu ve homojen bir dağılım göstermedi.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• bor karbür
• Kompozit
• reaktif sintering

Kaynakça

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