Comparison of residual carbon content and morphology of B4C powders synthesized under different conditions

  • Seyed Faridaddin Feiz 1
  • Leila Nikzad 1
  • Hudsa Majidian 1
  • Esmaeil Salahi 1
  • 1 Ceramics Department, Materials and Energy Research Center (MERC), Karaj, Iran

Abstract

In this article, the impact of different B4C synthesis methods on the amount of residual carbon and the final morphology of the prepared ceramic particles was investigated. The main materials for the synthesis of B4C were glucose and boric acid, and the effects of adding tartaric acid and performing mechanical activation were studied. For this purpose, two methods of carbon dissolution and boron carbide oxidation were used to determine the amount of residual carbon in the ceramic products. The results of the investigations on the sample synthesized in optimal conditions showed that if additives and mechanical activation are not used, about 7 wt% of carbon will remain in the synthesized powder. The amount of carbon decreased to 5.7 wt% with mechanical activation, but the best result was obtained with the addition of tartaric acid, in which the amount of impurity dropped to 3.3 wt%. Finally, the size and morphology of B4C particles and carbon impurities were observed and compared using a scanning electron microscope.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.
Keywords: Synthesis, Boron carbide, Residual carbon, Morphology, SEM

References

[1] A. Sivkov, I. Rakhmatullin, I. Shanenkov, Y. Shanenkova, Boron carbide B4C ceramics with enhanced physico-mechanical properties sintered from multimodal powder of plasma dynamic synthesis, Int. J. Refract. Met. Hard Mater. 78 (2019) 85–91. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijrmhm.2018.09.003.
[2] W. Zhang, S. Yamashita, H. Kita, Progress in pressureless sintering of boron carbide ceramics – a review, Adv. Appl. Ceram. 118 (2019) 222–239. https://doi.org/10.1080/17436753.2019.1574285.
[3] D. Davtyan, R. Mnatsakanyan, L. Liu, S. Aydinyan, I. Hussainova, Microwave synthesis of B4C nanopowder for subsequent spark plasma sintering, J. Mater. Res. Technol. 8 (2019) 5823–5832. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmrt.2019.09.052.
[4] V. Kulikovsky, V. Vorlicek, P. Bohac, R. Ctvrtlik, M. Stranyanek, et al., Mechanical properties and structure of amorphous and crystalline B4C films, Diam. Relat. Mater. 18 (2009) 27–33. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.diamond.2008.07.021.
[5] B. Dyatkin, R.M. Gamache, B.Y. Rock, S.B. Qadri, W.K. Edelen, M. Laskoski, Microwave-assisted pressureless sintering of silicon-reinforced boron carbide composites, J. Solid State Chem. 292 (2020) 121659. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jssc.2020.121659.
[6] T.R. Pilladi, G. Panneerselvam, S. Anthonysamy, V. Ganesan, Thermal expansion of nanocrystalline boron carbide, Ceram. Int. 38 (2012) 3723–3728. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ceramint.2012.01.016.
[7] C. Wang, Z. Lu, K. Zhang, Microstructure, mechanical properties and sintering model of B4C nozzle with micro holes by powder injection molding, Powder Technol. 228 (2012) 334–338. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.powtec.2012.05.049.
[8] D. Lee, J. Kim, B. Park, I. Jo, S.-K. Lee, et al., Mechanical and thermal neutron absorbing properties of B4C/aluminum alloy composites fabricated by stir casting and hot rolling process, Metals (Basel). 11 (2021) 413. https://doi.org/10.3390/met11030413.
[9] P.H.P.M. da Silveira, T.T. da Silva, M.P. Ribeiro, P.R. Rodrigues de Jesus, P.C.R. dos S. Credmann, A.V. Gomes, A brief review of alumina, silicon carbide and boron carbide ceramic materials for ballistic applications, Acad. Lett. (2021) 1–11. https://doi.org/10.20935/AL3742.
[10] Rafi-ud-din, G.H. Zahid, Z. Asghar, M. Maqbool, E. Ahmad, et al., Ethylene glycol assisted low-temperature synthesis of boron carbide powder from borate citrate precursors, J. Asian Ceram. Soc. 2 (2014) 268–274. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jascer.2014.05.011.
[11] A. Bhagirath Jadhav, A. Gaikwad, Y. Gori, A. Somaiah, G.V. Rambabu, et al., A review of armour’s use of composite materials, Mater. Today Proc. (2023). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matpr.2023.09.167.
[12] Y. Chang, X. Sun, M. Ma, C. Mu, P. Li, et al., Application of hard ceramic materials B4C in energy storage: Design B4C@C core-shell nanoparticles as electrodes for flexible all-solid-state micro-supercapacitors with ultrahigh cyclability, Nano Energy. 75 (2020) 104947. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nanoen.2020.104947.
[13] L. Shi, Y. Gu, L. Chen, Y. Qian, Z. Yang, J. Ma, A low temperature synthesis of crystalline B4C ultrafine powders, Solid State Commun. 128 (2003) 5–7. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0038-1098(03)00627-6.
[14] S. Wang, Y. Li, X. Xing, X. Jing, Low-temperature synthesis of high-purity boron carbide via an aromatic polymer precursor, J. Mater. Res. 33 (2018) 1659–1670. https://doi.org/10.1557/jmr.2018.97.
[15] I.V. Solodkyi, I.I. Bogomol, M.Y. Vterkovs’kyi, P.I. Loboda, Low-temperature synthesis of boron carbide ceramics, J. Superhard Mater. 40 (2018) 236–242. https://doi.org/10.3103/S1063457618040020.
[16] O. Karaahmet, Use of partially hydrolyzed PVA for boron carbide synthesis from polymeric precursor, Ceram. - Silik. 64 (2020) 434–446. https://doi.org/10.13168/cs.2020.0031.
[17] S. Avcıoğlu, F. Kaya, C. Kaya, Morphological evolution of boron carbide particles: Sol-gel synthesis of nano/micro B4C fibers, Ceram. Int. 47 (2021) 26651–26667. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ceramint.2021.06.073.
[18] S. Avcioglu, F. Kaya, C. Kaya, Effect of elemental nano boron on the transformation and morphology of boron carbide (B4C) powders synthesized from polymeric precursors, Ceram. Int. 46 (2020) 17938–17950. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ceramint.2020.04.104.
[19] J. Kenny, N. McDonald, J. Binner, I.T. Hong Chang, S. Marinel, Low temperature synthesis and spark plasma sintering of a boron carbide with a low residual carbon content, J. Eur. Ceram. Soc. 42 (2022) 383–391. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jeurceramsoc.2021.10.012.
[20] H. Boussebha, S. Bakan, A.O. Kurt, Dynamic / thermochemical method: A novel approach in the synthesis of B4C powder, Open Ceram. 6 (2021) 100133. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.oceram.2021.100133.
[21] R.V. Krishnarao, J. Subrahmanyam, Formation of carbon free B4C through carbothermal reduction of B2O3, Trans. Indian Ceram. Soc. 68 (2009) 19–22. https://doi.org/10.1080/0371750X.2009.11082157.
[22] M. Maqbool, Rafi-Ud-Din, G.H. Zahid, E. Ahmad, Z. Asghar, et al., Effect of saccharides as carbon source on the synthesis and morphology of B4C fine particles from carbothermal synthesis precursors, Mater. Express. 5 (2015) 390–400. https://doi.org/10.1166/mex.2015.1257.
[23] T.R. Pilladi, K. Ananthansivan, S. Anthonysamy, Synthesis of boron carbide from boric oxide-sucrose gel precursor, Powder Technol. 246 (2013) 247–251. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.powtec.2013.04.055.
[24] S.K. Vijay, R. Krishnaprabhu, V. Chandramouli, S. Anthonysamy, Synthesis of nanocrystalline boron carbide by sucrose precursor method-optimization of process conditions, Ceram. Int. 44 (2018) 4676–4684. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ceramint.2017.12.047.
[25] S.F. Feiz, L. Nikzad, H. Majidian, E. Salahi, Performance of glucose, sucrose and cellulose as carbonaceous precursors for the synthesis of B4C powders, Synth. Sinter. 2 (2022) 26–30. https://doi.org/10.53063/synsint.2022.21108.
[26] S.F. Feiz, L. Nikzad, H. Majidian, E. Salahi, Effects of glucose pretreatment and boric acid content on the synthesizability of B4C ceramics, Synth. Sinter. 2 (2022) 78–83. https://doi.org/10.53063/synsint.2022.22115.
[27] S.F. Feiz, L. Nikzad, H. Majidian, E. Salahi, Optimum temperature, time and atmosphere of precursor pyrolysis for synthesis of B4C ceramics, Synth. Sinter. 2 (2022) 146–150. https://doi.org/10.53063/synsint.2022.23119.
[28] S.F. Feiz, L. Nikzad, H. Majidian, E. Salahi, Synthesizability improvement of B4C ceramics by optimizing the process temperature and atmosphere, Synth. Sinter. 2 (2022) 181–185. https://doi.org/10.53063/synsint.2022.24131.
[29] S.F. Feiz, L. Nikzad, H. Majidian, E. Salahi, Influences of mechanical activation and tartaric acid addition on the efficiency of B4C synthesis, Synth. Sinter. 3 (2023) 54–59. https://doi.org/10.53063/synsint.2023.31140.

Cited By

Crossref Google Scholar
Comparison of residual carbon content and morphology of B4C powders synthesized under different conditions
Submitted
2023-05-14
Available online
2023-09-26
How to Cite
Feiz, S. F., Nikzad, L., Majidian, H., & Salahi, E. (2023). Comparison of residual carbon content and morphology of B4C powders synthesized under different conditions. Synthesis and Sintering, 3(3), 153-157. https://doi.org/10.53063/synsint.2023.33171