High‐Temperature Strength of Boron Suboxide Ceramic Consolidated by Spark Plasma Sintering

The spark plasma sintering (SPS) of B₆O ceramics using a highly crystalline boron suboxide powder with a low oxygen deficiency level is reported. The monolithic boron suboxide ceramic exhibited a room‐temperature strength of 300 ± 20 MPa, which is comparable to the strength of monolithic boron carbide. With increasing flexural test temperature, the strength of the boron suboxide ceramics increased to 450 MPa at 1400°C. The increase in strength with the temperature is associated with the unique microstructure of boron suboxide grains, which allows intergranular “brittle” fracture along subgrains even at 1400°C. This suggests that even higher strengths can be achieved.