Effect of Forming Pressure on Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of B₄C- SiC-Si Ceramic Composites

Abstract:

B₄C-SiC-Si ceramic composites were fabricated based on molten silicon infiltration method. The influence of preforms^' forming pressure on the microstructure and mechanical properties of B₄C-SiC-Si ceramic composites was studied by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and electron universal testing machines, etc. The results showed that the ceramic consists of B₄C, B₁₂(C,Si,B)₃, SiC and Si phases. The microstructure analysis showed that: the volume percent of free silicon decreased with the increase in forming pressures. The Vikers-hardness of B₄C-SiC-Si ceramic composites increased, while the bending strength and fracture toughness both increased initially and then decreased with the increase in forming pressures of which the optimal pressure is 200 MPa. The optimum bending strength, fracture toughness and Vikers-hardness of the obtained B₄C-SiC-Si ceramic composites are 319±13 MPa, 4.9±0.1 MPa·m^1/2 and 24±1 GPa, respectively. The volume density and open porosity of the obtained B₄C-SiC-Si ceramic composites are 2.58 g/cm³ and 0.19 %, respectively.

• Periodical: Key Engineering Materials (Volume 768)
• Pages: 152-158
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/KEM.768.152
• Online since: April 2018
• Authors: Hui Zong, Cui Ping Zhang, Hong Qiang Ru*, He Huang, Jing Hui Zhu, Hai Bin Xu, Qian Xia
• Keywords: B₄C-SiC-Si Ceramic Composites, Forming Pressure, Mechanical Properties, Microstructure, Si Infiltration

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