Effect of Alumina on the Structure and Mechanical Properties of Spark Plasma Sintered Boron Carbide Academic Article uri icon

abstract

  • Uniform densification of relatively thick (~7mm) consolidated boron carbide plates at relatively low temperatures (e.g. 1800C) and low facture toughness are two of the primary challenges for further development of boron carbide applications. This work reports that these two challenges can be overcome simultaneously by adding 5wt% alumina as a sintering aid. Nearly fully dense (97%), fine grained boron carbide (B4C) samples were produced using spark plasma sintering at 1700C and above in the B4C5wt% Al2O3 system. The alumina and boron carbide matrix reacted to form an Al5O6BO3 (a mullitelike phase) during sintering. The Al5O6BO3 phase facilitated uniform densification via liquid phase sintering. This secondary phase is dispersed throughout the intergranular pores, providing obstacles for crack propagation and resulting in tougher boron carbide ceramics.

published proceedings

  • JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN CERAMIC SOCIETY

author list (cited authors)

  • Xie, K. Y., Toksoy, M. F., Kuwelkar, K., Zhang, B., Krogstad, J. A., Haber, R. A., & Hemker, K. J.

citation count

  • 36

editor list (cited editors)

  • Kim, H.

publication date

  • November 2014

publisher