High-temperature strength and plastic deformation behavior of niobium diboride consolidated by spark plasma sintering

Bulk niobium diboride ceramics were consolidated by spark plasma sintering (SPS) at 1900 °C. SPS resulted in dense specimens with a density of 98% of the theoretical density and a mean grain size of 6 μm. During the SPS consolidation, the hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) was formed from B2O3 on the powder particle surface and residual adsorbed nitrogen in the raw diboride powder. The room-temperature strength of these NbB2 bulks was 420 MPa. The flexural strength of the NbB2 ceramics remained unchanged up to 1600 °C. At 1700 °C an increase in strength to 450 MPa was observed, which was accompanied by the disappearance of the secondary h-BN phase. Finally, at 1800 °C signs of plastic deformation were observed. Fractographic analysis revealed a number of etching pits and steplike surfaces suggestive of high-temperature deformation. The temperature dependence of the flexural strength of NbB2 bulks prepared by SPS was compared with data for monolithic TiB2, HfB2 and ZrB2. Our analysis suggested that the thermal stresses accumulated during SPS consolidation may lead to additional strengthening at elevated temperatures. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

[1]  Y. Sakka,et al.  Ultra-high elevated temperature strength of TiB2-based ceramics consolidated by spark plasma sintering , 2017 .

[2]  O. Vasylkiv,et al.  Mechanical properties of SiC–NbB2 eutectic composites by in situ spark plasma sintering , 2016 .

[3]  O. Vasylkiv,et al.  Consolidation and grain growth of tantalum diboride during spark plasma sintering , 2016 .

[4]  M. Öveçoğlu,et al.  Effect of sintering techniques on the microstructure and mechanical properties of niobium borides , 2016 .

[5]  O. Vasylkiv,et al.  Microstructure and mechanical properties of boron suboxide ceramics prepared by pressureless microwave sintering , 2016 .

[6]  Y. Sakka,et al.  High‐Strength B4C–TaB2 Eutectic Composites Obtained via In Situ by Spark Plasma Sintering , 2016 .

[7]  Y. Sakka,et al.  High temperature flexural strength in monolithic boron carbide ceramic obtained from two different raw powders by spark plasma sintering , 2016 .

[8]  S. Grasso,et al.  Flash Spark Plasma Sintering (FSPS) of α and β SiC , 2016 .

[9]  Y. Sakka,et al.  Room and high temperature flexural failure of spark plasma sintered boron carbide , 2016 .

[10]  G. Hilmas,et al.  Elevated Temperature Strength Enhancement of ZrB2–30 vol% SiC Ceramics by Postsintering Thermal Annealing , 2016 .

[11]  O. Guillon,et al.  Effect of Internal Current Flow during the Sintering of Zirconium Diboride by Field Assisted Sintering Technology , 2016 .

[12]  Y. Sakka,et al.  High-strength TiB2–TaC ceramic composites prepared using reactive spark plasma consolidation , 2016 .

[13]  Y. Sakka,et al.  High-temperature reactive spark plasma consolidation of TiB2–NbC ceramic composites , 2015 .

[14]  Y. Sakka,et al.  Densification, microstructure evolution and mechanical properties of WC doped HfB2-SiC ceramics , 2015 .

[15]  G. Hilmas,et al.  Mechanical behavior of zirconium diboride–silicon carbide–boron carbide ceramics up to 2200 °C , 2015 .

[16]  K. Polychronopoulou,et al.  Thermal and chemical stability of hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) nanoplatelets , 2015 .

[17]  Y. Sakka,et al.  Fabrication, microstructure and properties of in situ synthesized B 4 C–NbB 2 eutectic composites by spark plasma sintering , 2015 .

[18]  Y. Sakka,et al.  High-temperature reaction consolidation of TaC–TiB2 ceramic composites by spark-plasma sintering , 2015 .

[19]  Y. Sakka,et al.  In Situ Fabrication of B4C–NbB2 Eutectic Composites by Spark–Plasma Sintering , 2014 .

[20]  Y. Sakka,et al.  Toughness control of boron carbide obtained by spark plasma sintering in nitrogen atmosphere , 2014 .

[21]  K. Sairam,et al.  Reaction spark plasma sintering of niobium diboride , 2014 .

[22]  J. Vleugels,et al.  High temperature strength of hot pressed ZrB2–20 vol% SiC ceramics based on ZrB2 starting powders prepared by different carbo/boro-thermal reduction routes , 2013 .

[23]  William G. Fahrenholtz,et al.  Strength of Zirconium Diboride to 2300°C , 2013 .

[24]  J. Kuebler,et al.  Mechanical behavior and failure mechanisms of boron carbide based three-layered laminates with weak interfaces , 2011 .

[25]  Bjørn Clausen,et al.  Measurement of thermal residual stresses in ZrB2–SiC composites , 2011 .

[26]  G. Hilmas,et al.  Densification Behavior and Microstructure Evolution of Hot-pressed HfB2 , 2011 .

[27]  Yanchun Zhou,et al.  In Situ Reaction Synthesis, Electrical and Thermal, and Mechanical Properties of Nb4AlC3 , 2008 .

[28]  I. Talmy,et al.  Properties of Ceramics in the NbB2–CrB2 System , 2008 .

[29]  C. Lesniak,et al.  Boron nitride (BN) and BN composites for high-temperature applications , 2008 .

[30]  G. Dimitrakis,et al.  Evidence for the Microwave Effect During the Annealing of Zinc Oxide , 2007 .

[31]  William G. Fahrenholtz,et al.  Refractory Diborides of Zirconium and Hafnium , 2007 .

[32]  T. Noda,et al.  Relation between microstructure, properties and spark plasma sintering (SPS) parameters of pure ultrafine WC powder , 2007 .

[33]  J. Vleugels,et al.  Phase instability in ZrO2–TiB2 composites , 2007 .

[34]  R. Steiger,et al.  Sintering and Properties of Titanium Diboride Made from Powder Synthesized in a Plasma‐Arc Heater , 2006 .

[35]  A. L. Ivanovskii,et al.  Band structure of ZrB2, VB2, NbB2, and TaB2 hexagonal diborides: Comparison with superconducting MgB2 , 2002 .

[36]  M. Izumi,et al.  High-pressure synthesis of superconducting Nb1−xB2 (x=0–0.48) with the maximum Tc=9.2 K , 2002, cond-mat/0208331.

[37]  D. Sciti,et al.  Effect of annealing treatments on microstructure and mechanical properties of liquid-phase-sintered silicon carbide , 2001 .

[38]  Mark M. Opeka,et al.  Mechanical, Thermal, and Oxidation Properties of Refractory Hafnium and zirconium Compounds , 1999 .

[39]  M. Korsukova,et al.  Floating zone growth and high-temperature hardness of NbB2 and TaB2 single crystals , 1998 .

[40]  R. Souda,et al.  Structural analysis of the HfB2(0001) surface by impact-collision ion scattering spectroscopy , 1998 .

[41]  Lorenz S. Sigl,et al.  Microcracking in B4C‐TiB2 Composites , 1995 .

[42]  A. Lipp,et al.  Hexagonal boron nitride: Fabrication, properties and applications , 1989 .

[43]  K. Nakano,et al.  High temperature hardness and slip system of NbB2 and TaB2 single crystals , 1982 .

[44]  S. Motojima,et al.  Chemical vapour deposition of niobium diboride (NbB2) , 1975 .

[45]  D. Kalish,et al.  Strength, Fracture Mode, and Thermal Stress Resistance of HfB2 and ZrB2 , 1969 .

[46]  G. Samsonov,et al.  Static strength of refractory compounds at high temperatures , 1968 .

[47]  D. Lewis,et al.  BOND STRENGTH IN DIBORIDES OF SOME GROUP IV AND V METALS. , 1968 .