Characterization of Pressureless Sintered Boron Carbide

Abstract

This report outlines the characterization study of pressureless sintered boron carbide with graphite additive used as a sintering and densification aid on hexagonally shaped and plate-shaped samples of boron carbide. We conducted this investigation to determine whether pressureless sintered boron carbide could be used as a substitute for the baseline hot-pressed boron carbide. The surfaces were characterized with a scanning electron microscope. The samples were tested for strength, hardness, density, and composition using four-point flexure testing, Knoop microindentation, Archimede s method, and x-ray spectroscopy, respectively. These values were then compared with literature values for pressureless sintered boron carbide and hot-pressed boron carbide. We concluded that the substitution was not feasible because of the high-porosity and low-strength values.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Mar 01, 2013
Accession Number
ADA576131

Entities

People

  • Joshua Pomerantz
  • Tomoko Sano

Organizations

  • United States Army Research Laboratory

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Additives (Chemicals)
  • Armor
  • Boron Carbides
  • Electron Microscopes
  • Fabrication
  • Flexural Strength
  • Graphitic Materials
  • Hardness
  • Hot Pressing
  • Materials
  • Mechanical Properties
  • Microscopes
  • Military Research
  • Porosity
  • Scanning Electron Microscopes
  • Spectroscopy
  • X Rays

Fields of Study

  • Materials science

Readers

  • Powder metallurgy of Titanium alloys.
  • Reinforced Composite Materials

Technology Areas

  • Microelectronics