Publication Date:
2017-12-14
Description:
The densification of non-oxide ceramics has been a known challenge in the field of engineering ceramics. The amount and type of sinter-aid together with sintering conditions significantly influence the microstructure in non-oxide ceramics. In this perspective, the present work reports the use of Eu 2 O 3 sinter-aid and spark plasma sintering towards the densification of B 4 C. The densification is largely influenced by the solid-state reactions during heating to 1900°C. Based on the careful analysis of the heat treated powder mixture (B 4 C-Eu 2 O 3 ) and sintered compacts, the competitive reaction pathways are proposed to rationalize the formation of EuB 6 as dominant microstructural phase. An array of distinctive morphological features in terms of intragranular and intergranular EuB 6 phase as well as characteristic defect structures (asymmetric twins, stacking faults and threaded dislocations) are observed within dense B 4 C matrix. An attempt has been made to explain the competition between microstructure development and densification. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
Print ISSN:
0002-7820
Electronic ISSN:
1551-2916
Topics:
Mechanical Engineering, Materials Science, Production Engineering, Mining and Metallurgy, Traffic Engineering, Precision Mechanics
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