Corrosion resistance of B 4C-Me xB y composite materials

Abstract

A potentiodynamic method is used to determine the corrosion stability of composite materials based on boron carbide. The investigation is carried out in nitric acid and sulphuric acid electrolytes. The composite materials are obtained by hot pressing and activated sintering. Samples containing 2.5 wt.% VB 2 and 2.5 wt.% W 2B 3 are more stable in nitric acid electrolyte than is hot-pressed pure boron carbide, though the latter is more stable in HNO 3 electrolyte than in H 2SO 4 electrolyte. Activation-sintered B 4C-CrB 2 materials show a higher resistivity towards H 2SO 4 electrolyte than does hot-pressed pure boron carbide.