Sintering behavior and mechanical property of B4C ceramics fabricated by spark plasma sintering

Abstract

B4C ceramics were fabricated by spark plasma sintering process and their sintering behavior, microstructure and mechanical properties were evaluated. Relative density of B4C ceramics could be achieved by spark plasma sintering method reached as high as 99% at lower temperature than conventional sintering method, in addition, without any sintering additives. The mechanical properties of B4C ceramics could be improved by the heat treatment at 1300°C during sintering process which can be removed B 2O3 phase from a B4C powder surface. This improvement results from the formation of a fine and homogeneous microstructure because the grain coarsening was suppressed by the elimination of B 2O3 phase. Particularly, mechanical properties of the specimen experienced the B2O3 removing process improved over 30% compared with the specimen without that process.