Processing Low‐Oxide ZrB2 Ceramics with High Strength Using Boron Carbide and Spark Plasma Sintering

• DOI: 10.1111/jace.14253
• Publication Date: 2016-04-22T14:39:08Z
• Authors: David Pham; Joseph Houston Dycus; James M. LeBeau; Venkateswara R. M...; Krishna Muralidharan; Erica L. Corral
• Keywords: Spark Plasma Sintering; Boron carbide

A phase diagram‐assisted powder processing approach is shown to produce low‐oxygen (0.06 wt%O) ZrB 2 ceramics using minimal B 4 C additions (0.25 wt%) and spark plasma sintering. Scanning electron microscopy scanning transmission with elemental spectroscopy are used identify “trash collector” oxides. These oxides composed of manufacturer metal impurities that form discreet oxide particles due the absence standard Zr–B found in high oxygen samples. preliminary Zr–B–C–O quaternary thermodynamic database developed as a part this work was calculate ZrO –B pseudobinary diagram –ZrO pseudoternary diagrams. We use calculated equilibrium diagrams characterize show direct reaction path allows for formation an content 0.06 wt%, fine grains (3.3 μm) superior mechanical properties (flexural strength 660 MPa).