Synthesis and performance of TiB2–B4C composites by high pressure of TiC–B mixture

Abstract

AbstractTiB2–B4C composites were in situ synthesized and consolidated by high pressure synthesis method from a mixture of TiC and B powders at the pressure and temperature of 5.0 GPa and 1500℃‐1900℃. The phase composition, microstructure, density, hardness, thermal conductivity, and electrical resistivity of TiB2–B4C composites were analyzed. As the increase in the synthesis temperature, the products were TiB2 and B4C phases and that crystallinity improved. TiB2–B4C composites were dense without obvious pores. TiB2–B4C composites synthesized at 1800℃ obtained the optimized performance, including the relative density of 98.2%, the Vickers hardness of 31.7 ± 1.2 GPa with the load of 9.8 N, the thermal conductivity of 30.3 ± 0.7 W/(m K), and the electrical resistivity of 3.3 × 10−3 Ω cm, respectively. The grain size of the TiB2–B4C composites changed with the increase in synthesis temperature, leading to the changes in hardness, thermal conductivity, and electrical resistivity.