Pressureless Sintering of Zirconium Diboride: Particle Size and Additive Effects

Abstract

Zirconium diboride (ZrB2) was densified by pressureless sintering using < 4-wt% boron carbide and/or carbon as sintering aids. As-received ZrB2 with an average particle size of ~2 μm could be sintered to ~100% density at 1900⁰C using a combination of boron carbide and carbon to react with and remove the surface oxide impurities. Even though particle size reduction increased the oxygen content of the powders from ~0.9 wt% for the as-received powder to ~2.0 wt%, the reduction in particle size enhanced the sinterability of the powder. Attrition-milled ZrB2 with an average particle size of < 0.5 μm was sintered to nearly full density at 1850⁰C using either boron carbide or a combination of boride carbide and carbon. Regardless of the starting particle size, densification of ZrB2 was not possible without the removal of oxygen-based impurities on the particle surfaces by a chemical reaction.

Department(s)

Materials Science and Engineering

Sponsor(s)

United States. Air Force. Office of Scientific Research
Air Force Research Laboratory (Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio)
National Science Foundation (U.S.)

Keywords and Phrases

Oxygen Content; Pressureless Sintering; Zirconium Diboride

International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)

0002-7820; 1551-2916

Document Type

Article - Journal

Document Version

Citation

File Type

text

Language(s)

English

Rights

© 2007 John Wiley & Sons, All rights reserved.

Publication Date

17 Dec 2007

Link to Full Text

Share

 
COinS