C-CNT Produced by Spark Plasma Sintering

H.C. Starck HS Grade boron carbide (B4C) powders with multi-walled carbon nanotube (CNT) were sintered by Spark Plasma Sintering (SPS) method in a vacuum atmosphere to obtain highly dense and ne grained nal ceramic products.Powder mixtures were densied by SPS at 1650 and 1725 • C using 40 MPa pressure for 5 min.The eects of heating rate, spark plasma sintering temperature and CNT additive on density, hardness, fracture toughness and microstructures of B4C-CNT samples are investigated.Density measurements were carried out using Archimedes method.Hardness and fracture toughness were examined by Vickers indentation technique.Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) was used to observe microstructural investigation.