Comparison of Slip Cast to Hot Pressed Boron Carbide

Abstract

Abstract : To meet the possible increase in future demand for armor materials, an increase in the throughput during manufacturing is necessary. One possibility is the use of the slip casting and sintering technique to form ceramic armor compacts as an alternative to current hot pressing techniques. Dynamic uniaxial compression tests with the Kolsky bar were conducted on two types of slip cast boron carbide, and compared with results from the standard hot pressed boron carbide. One type was slip cast, sintered, and hot isostatically pressed, while the other was only slip cast and sintered. Microstructural characterization by transmission electron microscopy showed graphite inclusions and more annealing twins than in the hot pressed boron carbide material. Examination of fragments recovered from the compression tests determined that the fracture mode of both slip cast materials was brittle transgranular cleavage. The compression test results show comparable compressive strengths between the sip cast and hot pressed boron carbide despite higher density of graphite in the slip cast material.