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Sintering and Mechanical Properties of Mullite‐Reinforced Boron Carbide Matrix Composite
Author(s) -
Zuoguang Zhang,
Mingchao Wang,
Min Li,
Zhijie Sun
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
journal of the american ceramic society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.9
H-Index - 196
eISSN - 1551-2916
pISSN - 0002-7820
DOI - 10.1111/j.1551-2916.2009.02991.x
Subject(s) - mullite , materials science , sintering , boron carbide , ceramic , composite material , ceramic matrix composite , composite number , microstructure , flexural strength , hot pressing , toughness , fracture toughness , boron , chemistry , organic chemistry
In order to improve the mechanical properties of boron carbide (B 4 C) ceramic, a mullite‐reinforced B 4 C matrix ceramic with complete densification was fabricated via hot pressing for the first time. The dense sintering mechanism of mullite‐reinforced B 4 C ceramic was discussed through the phase and element analysis. A new dense sintering mechanism was found in which the diffusion of Si in mullite through the B 4 C matrix enhances the sintering of mullite‐reinforced B 4 C ceramics effectively. The mechanical properties and microstructure of the composite ceramics were investigated in contrast with monolithic B 4 C and one kind of commercial B 4 C ceramic. The flexural strength and fractural toughness of B 4 C with 3 vol% mullite addition reached 560 MPa and 3.33 MPa·m 1/2 , which is 154% and 96% higher than that of monolithic B 4 C, respectively.