Flash Sintering of Boron Carbide (B4C)

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Abstract:

Flash sintering of boron carbide (B4C) with DC and AC currents across a range of field strengths, temperatures, specimen sizes, and electrodes was investigated. Fully dense B4C was obtained by flash sintering at furnace temperatures as low as 370 deg C, but only in a small portion of the specimen volume due to current localization. Application of an isothermal voltage or current ramp at temperatures of 550 or 1100 deg C prevented current localization, but the resultant lower power density was insufficient to raise the specimen temperature high enough to obtain fully dense specimens. Scalable densification of B4C at low furnace temperatures with flash sintering is hypothesized to be possible with a higher current power supply or by thermally isolating the specimen to reduce energy loss.

Author(s):
Rosenberger, Andrew ; Brennan, Ray ; Vennila-raju, Selva ; Fry, Aubrey L.
Author Organization(s):
Combat Capabilities Development Command Army Research Laboratory
Funding Organization(s):
Publication Date:
2020 Oct 01
Pagination:
0

Security Markings

RECORD

Collection: TRECMS
Subject Terms
Modernization Areas:
Microelectronics
Communities of Interest:
Energy and Power Technologies
Descriptor(s):
experimental design, military research, materials, boron carbides, temperature gradients, abstracts, data analysis, electric current, voltage, carbides, conductivity, direct current, electron microscopy, high temperature, power supplies, resistance, scanning electron microscopy
Keyword(s):
ceramics, energy coupled to matter, flash
Subject Categories:
Materials; Chemistry
Update Date:
2020 Nov 16