X-ray diffraction study of B4C under high pressure

Abstract

The high pressure X-ray diffraction study of B4C was carried out by using the synchrotron radiation source. The ambient crystal structure remained stable to the highest pressure 126 GPa, and the pressure induced amorphization did not occurs. The c/a ratio decreased with increasing pressure that means the apex angle of the rhombohedron increases with increasing pressure. The bulk modulus was determined by the Birch-Murnaghan's equation to be 305.8 GPa. © 2010 IOP Publishing Ltd.