High strength B4C–TiB2 composites fabricated by reaction hot-pressing

Formation mechanism of B4C–TiB2–TiC ceramic composite produced by mechanical alloying of Ti–B4C powders

“…B 4 C possesses unique physical and thermal properties such as high elastic modulus, high melting point, good chemical stability and high neutron absorption cross section. In addition, B 4 C ceramics exhibit excellent mechanical properties such as high hardness and high wear resistance [3][4][5][6][7].…”

“…However, their widespread application has been restricted mainly due to their low strength and fracture toughness as well as poor sinterability due to a low self diffusion coefficient. Several additives have been investigated in order to promote the sinterability and mechanical properties of B 4 C [3]. B 4 C ceramics with dispersed TiB 2 particles have been investigated in order to improve both strength and toughness [12][13][14][15].…”

The Role of Infiltration Temperature in the Reaction Bonding of Boron Carbide by Silicon Infiltration

“…1 Fully dense B 4 C-based ceramics can be made either by pressureless sintering at very high temperatures usually beyond 2200°C or hot pressing with complex process hampering its applications in industrial production. [2][3][4] Though the introductions of TiB 2 , ZrB 2 , and SiC not only can facilitate sintering, but also can form particle-reinforced B 4 C composite ceramics and thus can improve the fracture toughness of B 4 C ceramics, some problems have to be solved, including the deformation, cracks, and high fabrication costs. [4][5][6] In recent decades, based on molten infiltration, a new technology to fabricate B 4 C composite has been developed, which could settle the above issues with a series of advantages, such as simplicity in processing, lower sintering temperature and lower cost than the pressureless sintering and hot pressing methods, near net shape sintering and in favor of preparing large, complex products, etc.…”

Enhanced mechanical properties of nanocrystalline boron carbide by nanoporosity and interface phases

“…However, the low toughness and strength as well as poor damage tolerance have limited their widespread use as structural and functional materials 3,4 . As strength and plasticity of brittle materials are sensitive to the fabrication flaws that may act as stress concentrators or weak points for crack initiation and thereby catastrophic failure 5,6 , various attempts have been made to improve the sintering density of B 4 C ceramics with different sintering additives [7][8][9] . Although those sintering aids can increase the specific density of B 4 C, the fracture toughness, ductility and strength were only improved marginally 10,11 .…”