Pressureless Sintering of Boron Carbide

Abstract

B 4 C powder compacts were sintered using a graphite dilatometer in flowing He under constant heating rates. Densification started at 1800°C. The rate of densification increased rapidly in the range 1870°–2010°C, which was attributed to direct B 4 C–B 4 C contact between particles permitted via volatilization of B 2 O 3 particle coatings. Limited particle coarsening, attributed to the presence or evolution of the oxide coatings, occurred in the range 1870°–1950°C. In the temperature range 2010°–2140°C, densification continued at a slower rate while particles simultaneously coarsened by evaporation–condensation of B 4 C. Above 2140°C, rapid densification ensued, which was interpreted to be the result of the formation of a eutectic grain boundary liquid, or activated sintering facilitated by nonstoichiometric volatilization of B 4 C, leaving carbon behind. Rapid heating through temperature ranges in which coarsening occurred fostered increased densities. Carbon doping (3 wt%) in the form of phenolic resin resulted in more dense sintered compacts. Carbon reacted with B 2 O 3 to form B 4 C and CO gas, thereby extracting the B 2 O 3 coatings, permitting sintering to start at ∼1350°C.