Microstructural and Mechanical Properties of Hot-pressed (B4C, SiC)/TiB2 Composites

The overall characteristics of the starting powders were determined, namely microstructure, partitle size, phase composition. The pre-forming step and the parameters of the hot pressing were given in detail. (B4C, Sic)/TiB2 composites were succesfully fabricated by hot-pressing at 2250 degrees C for 2 h under a pressure of 130 MPa. The Matrix phase was B4C-SiC including TiB2 (2 and 4 vol.-%) as additive. The microstructural features of the fabricated Composites were examined by SEM. Relative densities of the composites ranged between 89 and 93,5 %. According to Vickers microhardness tests and flexure strength measurements, highest hardness obtained was 2200 Hv and flexure strength results have values up to 275 MPa. It was concluded that TiB2 reinforcement improved the flexure strength and microhardness of hot pressed B4C-SiC composites. It was concluded that the novel compositions presented here are candidate materials for body armor or blasting nozzle applications.