Liquid-Phase-Sintering of Boron Carbide Ceramics

Abstract

Pressureless sintering of a submicron B4C powder doped with various amounts of Al2O3 and Y2O3 additives were carried out. It was found that the consolidation virtually proceeded via a liquid-phase-sintering mechanism. Effects of composition and amount of sintering additives and sintering temperature on the densification and grain growth behaviors were studied through monitoring density changes and microstructural evolution. Some properties such as elastic modulus, hardness and fracture toughness were characterized.