Fabrication and properties of in-situ pressureless-sintered ZrB2/B4C composites

Abstract The effect of ZrO 2 addition on the mechanical properties of B 4 C ceramics prepared by pressureless sintering was investigated. Submicron B 4 C powders, phenolic resin as binders and submicro-sized ZrO 2 as sintering aids were used. Results show that the addition of ZrO 2 improves the relative density and mechanical properties of B 4 C remarkably. The highest relative density was 96.7%, meanwhile bending strength and Vickers hardness of 365.4 MPa and 34.2 GPa, respectively were measured for specimens added with 15 wt% ZrO 2 and pressureless sintered at 2100 °C for 60 min.