Microstructure and densification of ZrB2-SiC composites prepared by spark plasma sintering

Ipek Akin, Mikinori Hotta, Filiz Cinar Sahin, Onuralp Yucel, Gultekin Goller, Takashi Goto*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

112 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

ZrB2-SiC composites were prepared by spark plasma sintering (SPS) at temperatures of 1800-2100 °C for 180-300 s under a pressure of 20 MPa and at higher temperatures of above 2100 °C without a holding time under 10 MPa. Densification, microstructure and mechanical properties of ZrB2-SiC composites were investigated. Fully dense ZrB2-SiC composites containing 20-60 mass% SiC with a relative density of more than 99% were obtained at 2000 and 2100 °C for 180 s. Below 2120 °C, microstructures consisted of equiaxed ZrB2 grains with a size of 2-5 μm and α-SiC grains with a size of 2-4 μm. Morphological change from equiaxed to elongated α-SiC grains was observed at higher temperatures. Vickers hardness of ZrB2-SiC composites increased with increasing sintering temperature and SiC content up to 60 mass%, and ZrB2-SiC composite containing 60 mass% SiC sintered at 2100 °C for 180 s had the highest value of 26.8 GPa. The highest fracture toughness was observed for ZrB2-SiC composites containing 50 mass% SiC independent of sintering temperatures.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)2379-2385
Number of pages7
JournalJournal of the European Ceramic Society
Volume29
Issue number11
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Aug 2009

Keywords

  • Mechanical properties
  • Microstructure
  • SiC
  • Spark plasma sintering
  • ZrB

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