Abstract

B4C-SiC composites were fabricated via the preceramic polymer (PCP) route combined with pressure-assisted sintering. Fully dense bodies were achieved by controlling surface oxide on B4C powder and pyrolysis conditions for PCP coated powder. We elucidate i) the microstructure and phase developments observed in the process of fabricating dense B4C-PCP derived SiC composites and ii) the mechanical properties and crack deflection behavior of dense bodies. The incorporation of PCP derived SiC to B4C decreases hardness due to the lower hardness value of SiC compared to B4C and the residual carbon accompanied by SiC formation. Instead, the PCP derived SiC improved indentation fracture toughness. The main toughening mechanism supposed is a combination of crack impeding by SiC grains and crack deflection within SiC grains, likely due to the presence of subgrains or layered microstructure in the PCP derived SiC grains.

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