Influences of Sintering Additives on Densification Behaviors in Pressureless Sintering of Boron Carbide Ceramics

Abstract

Experiments of pressureless sintering of a high-purity boron carbide powder were carried out by using some carbides such as SiC, Al4C3 and WC as sintering additives. With changing combinations and amount of the various sintering additives, the densification behaviors of B4C greatly changed. While their contents were within certain limits, all the three carbides could promote the densification of B4C. In the presence of a vapor containing Al element, a B4C powder compact doped with a small amount of SiC and WC was sintered to a relative density of 97%.