NRC, Industrial Materials Institute, Boucherville, Quebec, Canada, J4B 4L7
GEMPPM-URA CNRS 341-INSA de LYON, 69621, Villeurbanne Cédex, France
CERAMETAL, Mamer, L 8201, Luxembourg
Abstract:
The effect of boron carbide (B4C) additions on the densification and sintering behavior of a titanium diboride (TiB2) matrix was determined. Due to the milling process, iron and tungsten carbides (WC-Co) were included as a contaminant or a third phase in the composite. When adding from 10 to 30 wt% of B4C to TiB2 along with 0.5 wt% Fe sintered densities were increased from 96 to 99.9%. A small amount (0.5 wt% Fe) enhanced densification of TiB2. However, larger quantity (5 wt% Fe) leads to volatilization of the iron when sintering at high temperature and exaggerated grain growth. Solid solutions of (Ti,W)B2 were also detected when 3 wt% WC-Co was present. Microstructural coarsening was inhibited by incorporation of B4C particles and mechanical properties were consequently improved.