Synthesis of boron suboxide (B6O) with alkaline earth metal oxide materials with improved properties

Abstract

ABSTRACTThe pure boron suboxide (B6O) powder admixed with 1.08 vol% of MgO, CaO, and CaCO3 (corresponding to 1.5, 1.4, and 0.7 wt%, respectively) were synthesized by hot-pressing and the mechanical properties were evaluated. Pure B6O powders were sintered at a temperature of 1900°C, while the B6O-alkaline earth metal oxide admixed powders were sintered at a temperature of 1850°C. All sintering was done under an applied load of 80 MPa in an argon environment. The microstructures and phase analyses were studied by scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction techniques, respectively. The addition of the alkaline earth metal oxide additives resulted in the formation of boride and borate phases, depending on the oxide used. The mechanical properties of the hot-pressed materials were characterized based on their density, hardness, and fracture toughness. Between 95 and 98% of the theoretical densities were achieved and the result indicate a good combination of hardness (between 31.6 and 32.1 GPa) and fracture toughness (between 6.1 and 6.8 MPa.m0.5) in the B6O-alkaline earth metal oxide materials. The introduction of the additive enhances the fracture toughness of the pure B6O-materials, while the fracture mode observed in the sintered materials is mainly transgranular.