Reactive Hot Pressing of HfB2–SiC–Ta4HfC5 Ultra-High Temperature Ceramics

Abstract

Highly disperse and reactive (HfB2–SiC)@(Ta2O5–HfO2–C) composite powders were manufactured by sol–gel technology where Ta2O5–HfO2–C amorphous components were nanostructured and distributed in each other as uniformly as possible. The reactive sintering of the prepared composite powders at a relatively low temperature (1800°С) with an exposure time of 30 min and the pressure 30 MPa yielded (HfB2–30 vol % SiC)–xTa4HfC5 ultra-high temperature ceramics (UHTCs), where x = 5, 10, and 15 vol %, with a relative density of 75–78%. X-ray powder diffraction proved the complete conversion of tantalum and hafnium oxides to complex carbide Ta4HfC5. The average grain size as determined by scanning electron microscopy did not exceed 2–3 µm in HfB2 and 30–60 nm for the Ta4HfC5 phase. Thermal analysis in flowing air showed that, in the temperature range 20–1400°С, the increasing percentage of tantalum–hafnium carbide (the least oxidation resistant phase) leads to a systematic increase in oxidation-induced weight gain; however, a tendency to saturation is observed. The microstructural specifics of the oxidized surface are noticed depending on the composition of HfB2–SiC–Ta4HfC5 ceramics.