Effect of Ti and its compounds on the mechanical properties and microstructure of B4C ceramics fabricated via pressureless sintering

Abstract

The addition of Ti and its compounds particles has the potential to effectively enhance the fracture toughness of B4C ceramics. However, the influence of different Ti-based compounds on B4C ceramics has not been extensively studied. In this work, B4C–TiB2 multiphase ceramics were prepared by adding 5% Ti or its compounds (TiO2, TiB2 or TiC) in B4C and the effects of the additives on the B4C ceramics were studied. For this purpose, we adopted a sintering process carried out in situ in the absence of pressure at a temperature of 2250 °C for 1 h. It was evident from the results that the additives are capable of enhancing the sintering densification characteristics and the properties exhibited by B4C, as opposed to single-phase B4C ceramics. Additionally, different additives have varied effects on the microstructures and mechanical properties of B4C–TiB2 multiphase ceramics. The results of the study indicate that the TiC-added sample exhibits the most optimal mechanical properties, with 4.52 MPa m1/2 fracture toughness, 344.0 MPa flexural strength, 26.2 GPa hardness, and 516.0 GPa elastic modulus.