In situ growth behavior of boron nitride nanotubes on the surface of silicon carbide fibers as hierarchical reinforcements

BNNTs grown in situ on the surface of silicon carbide fibers via a simplified ball milling, impregnation and annealing method using boron powder as the raw material were synthesized. The morphology, microstructure and chemical composition of as-grown BNNTs were well characterized by field-emission scanning electron microscopy, field emission transmission electron microscopy, electron energy loss spectroscopy and Raman spectroscopy. The analysis results indicate that the nanostructures are BNNTs with the diameter of 50-130 nm, exhibiting a multi-walled and bamboo-like structure and possessing two distinct morphologies of the tube walls: flat walls and bubble-chain walls, respectively. Based on the experimental characterization of BNNTs and as-milled powders, the possible growth process of BNNTs has been described and the formation mechanisms of two types of bamboo-like BNNTs have been proposed, including the tip growth mode and the base growth mode.