Densification and grain growth during microwave sintering of titanium diboride

Dense TiB2 ceramics have been produced by microwave sintering at 1600-1700 degrees C under a controlled atmosphere. The effect of sintering conditions on the densification, microstructure and mechanical properties were investigated. Microwave sintering resulted in a uniform crack-free uniform microstructure; a density of 98.5%, a bending strength of 410 +/- 15 MPa, a Young's modulus of 495 +/- 10 GPa, an electrical resistivity of 1 x 10(-5) Omega cm, a Vickers hardness of 24.5 +/- 0.5 GPa and a fracture toughness of 5.42 +/- 0.20 MPa m(1/2) were obtained after sintering for 30 min at 1700 degrees C. (C) 2013 Acta Materialia Inc. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.