Abstract
Fully dense ZrB2–20vol% SiC (ZS) ceramics were fabricated by self-made high purity ZrB2 and SiC powders hot-pressing at 1900°C/30MPa. Their properties were compared with other ZS ceramics with the same nominal composition, but prepared by pressureless sintering, using low purity commercially available powders. The hot-pressed composites show superior hardness (17.82GPa), elastic modulus (504GPa), flexure strength (462MPa at 25°C and 463MPa at 1300°C in air), electrical conductivity (7.68×10−6Ω−1m−1 at 25°C), thermal conductivity (93.7W/(mK) at 25°C, 77.2W/(mK) at 1200°C) and a lower average thermal expansion coefficient (6.66×10−6K−1 from 25 to 2000°C) compared to the pressureless sintered materials. The improvement in these properties could be primarily explained by the decrease of impurities and second phase levels in hot pressed samples.
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