Effect of tantalum solid solution additions on the mechanical behavior of ZrB2

Abstract

Mechanical properties and microstructure were compared for zirconium diboride and two zirconium diboride solid solutions containing 3 and 6 at% tantalum diboride. X-ray diffraction indicated that the ceramics were nearly phase-pure and that tantalum dissolved into the ZrB2 lattice to form (Zr,Ta)B2 solid solutions. Microstructural analysis indicated that samples achieved nearly full relative density with average grain sizes that ranged from 3−5 μm. The three compositions had similar values of Young’s modulus (510−531 GPa), shear modulus (225−228 GPa), Vickers hardness (15.2–16.4 GPa), and flexural strength (391−452 MPa). Fracture toughness ranged from 2.6 to 3.7 MPa m1/2 and with increasing tantalum content, the fracture mode changed from predominantly intergranular to predominantly transgranular. Diboride solid solution materials had comparable properties to the single metal diboride, but differences in microstructure, secondary phases, and strain state among the three ceramics partially obscured the actual effects of the solid solution on fracture behavior.