Synthesis of B4C-SiC in-Situ Composite Powders through Carbothermic Reactions

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In recent years silicon carbide (SiC) has drawn attention due to its outstanding useful physical and chemical properties such as high hardness, low density, superior chemical inertness etc.Thus, SiC is a strong candidate for several high-tech applications.Numerous attempts have been made to improve its performance.Hard ceramic particles (TiB2, B4C, TiC, and Al2O3 etc.) were added to SiC matrix to improve its mechanical properties.In the current study, B4C-SiC in-situ composite powders were synthesized successfully via mechanochemical processing by using a powder mixture of B4C, SiO2 and black carbon.After mechanical preparation, the powder mixtures have reacted at 1400-1600 • C for various time intervals under Ar atmosphere.The resulting powders were characterized by XRD.Microstructure investigations were carried out to determine the distribution and morphology of SiC and B4C grains.The XRD pattern of the yield powder reveals B4C-SiC biphase composite powder.SEM images show net-shaped fibrous SiC structures and ultra-fine nanofibrous particles of 50-100 nm in diameter.