Synthesis of Hard Materials by Field Activation: The Synthesis of Solid Solutions and Composites in the TiB2-WB2-CrB2 System

Abstract

The synthesis of solid solutions of (Ti,W,Cr)B2 from elemental reactants using the field-activated, pressure-assisted synthesis method and employing the SPS apparatus was investigated. The nature of the products depended on temperature; they were nearly pure solid solutions at 1900°C with minor amounts of β-WB. The product density and microhardness depended on the temperature of synthesis for the same value of applied pressure (64 MPa). Samples with the highest density (94%) corresponded to a hardness of 22.7 GPa. When annealed at 1500°C, the solid solutions decomposed, precipitating a (W,Ti, Cr)B2 phase in a spinodal form. In addition, β-WB precipitates in the form of thin (0.4-5.3 nm) layers were observed. They existed in a 60°/120° orientation to the (Ti,W,Cr)B2 matrix, in agreement with previous observations. Highly faceted, small (nanosized) pores associated with the β-WB precipitates were also observed.