Elevated Temperature Thermal Properties of ZrB₂ with Carbon Additions

Author

Matthew J. Thompson
William Fahrenholtz, Missouri University of Science and TechnologyFollow
Greg Hilmas, Missouri University of Science and TechnologyFollow

Abstract

The thermal properties of zirconium diboride (ZrB₂) ceramics with carbon additions of up to 3 wt% were characterized up to 2000⁰C. Carbon contents were selected to produce ZrB₂ that was nominally pure, contained dissolved carbon, or contained carbon inclusions. The microstructure and density changes that resulted from the carbon additions affected the thermal behavior of ZrB₂ at room and elevated temperatures. Thermal diffusivity at 200⁰C increased from 0.150 cm²/s for nominally pure ZrB₂ to 0.175 cm²/s for ZrB₂ with 3 wt% carbon. The thermal diffusivity decreased with increasing temperature, reaching a value of 0.143 cm²/s at 2000⁰C for ZrB₂ with 3 wt% carbon. In addition, thermal diffusivity changed irreversibly during the first thermal cycle after densification due to changes in the microstructure that started between 1550⁰C and 1650⁰C. Heating resulted in the formation of a new phase, growth of ZrB₂ grains, changes in the morphology of carbon inclusions, and migration of W impurities from the ZrB₂ matrix into the new phase. Heat capacity, unlike thermal diffusivity, did not change during thermal cycling. Thermal conductivity, which was calculated from thermal diffusivity, heat capacity, and density, was as high as 64.2 W·(m·K) ^-1 at 2000⁰C for ZrB₂ with 3 wt% carbon. The phonon contribution to thermal conductivity decreased to nearly zero with the addition of 3 wt% carbon due to the presence of elongated carbon inclusions around ZrB₂ grains.

Recommended Citation

M. J. Thompson et al., "Elevated Temperature Thermal Properties of ZrB₂ with Carbon Additions," Journal of the American Ceramic Society, vol. 95, no. 3, pp. 1077 - 1085, Wiley-Blackwell, Mar 2012.

The definitive version is available at https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1551-2916.2011.05034.x

Department(s)

Materials Science and Engineering

Keywords and Phrases

Carbon addition; Carbon content; Density change; Elevated temperature; Thermal behaviors; Thermal cycle; Zirconium diboride; Carbon; Inclusions; Microstructure; Specific heat; Thermal cycling; Thermal diffusivity; Zirconium compounds; Thermal conductivity

International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)

0002-7820; 1551-2916

Document Type

Article - Journal

Document Version

Citation

File Type

text

Language(s)

English

Rights

© 2012 Wiley-Blackwell, All rights reserved.

Publication Date

01 Mar 2012