Abstract
An additive effect on the pressureless sintering of boron carbide is investigated. Some additive species, Al, TiB2, and AlF3 show a remarkable densification effect upon B4C. The Al-addition provides the best sintered body with the highest bulk density of 95% by means of the firing condition of 2200°C for 30min under Argon flow. An addition of SiC prevents the densification process. The additive species except for SiC tend to restrain the grain growth and the pore growth, acting probably as an inhibitor for the surface matter transport.
