SYNTHESIS and CHARACTERIZATION of MECHANICAL ACTIVATION ASSISTED BORON CARBIDE (B4C) PRECURSOR POWDERS

Abstract

The study carries out the synthesis and characterization of the precursor to be converted to boron carbide (B4C). For this purpose, starting materials are boric acid (H3BO3) and sodium citrate (C6H5Na3O7). Both starting materials' reactions formed a complex structure (precursor) consisting of B-O-C-Na elements. Phase and microstructure analyses and bond characteristics of the precursor powders perform using X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM/EDS), and Fourier spectroscopy (FT-IR) methods, respectively. As a result, the heat treatment carried out at relatively low temperatures (1000 oC) and under an inert gas atmosphere resulted in XRD patterns of the B4C phase. This study also investigated the possible reaction mechanism of the formation of the boron carbide phase and the effect of mechanical activation on the phase formation.

Keywords

• Boric Acid (H3BO3)
• Sodium Citrate (C6H5Na3O7)
• Boron carbide (B4C)
• mechanical activation

Thanks

This study was prepared from a master's thesis named 'Synthesis and Characterization of Precursor Powders for Boron Carbide (B4C) Ceramics' completed in 2021 at Kütahya Dumlupınar University, Graduate Education Institute, Department of Materials Science and Engineering. We want to thank Kütahya Dumlupınar University Advanced Technologies Center for supporting us in the analysis of this study and for valuable referees who contributed to the development of the article with their evaluations.

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