Sintering of nanocrystalline boron carbide synthesized by the B2O3-sucrose precursor method

Sintering of nanocrystalline boron carbide synthesized by the B2O3-sucrose precursor method was carried out using spark plasma sintering and hot-pressing techniques. High-density boron carbide was obtained at 1700 ? by spark plasma sintering method. Spark plasma sintering of commercially available B4C was also carried out at 1700 ? to compare the densification with nanocrystalline B4C. Density of spark plasma sintered nanocrystalline and commercial B4C under the same sintering conditions was 95% and 90% of the theoretical density, respectively. Hot-pressing of nanocrystalline boron carbide was also carried out to compare the densification with spark plasma sintering.

Automated summary

This study investigates the sintering of nanocrystalline boron carbide using spark plasma sintering and hot-pressing techniques. The results show that both methods can achieve high-density boron carbide.