Sintering Behavior and Mechanical Property of B4C Ceramics Fabricated by Spark Plasma Sintering

B₄C ceramics were fabricated by spark plasma sintering process and their sintering behavior, microstructure and mechanical properties were evaluated. Relative density of B₄C ceramics could be achieved by spark plasma sintering method reached as high as 99% at lower temperature than conventional sintering method, in addition, without any sintering additives. The mechanical properties of B₄C ceramics could be improved by the heat treatment at 1300℃ during sintering process which can be removed B₂O₃ phase from a B₄C powder surface. This improvement results from the formation of a fine and homogeneous microstructure because the grain coarsening was suppressed by the elimination of B₂O₃ phase. Particularly, mechanical properties of the specimen experienced the B₂O₃ removing process improved over 30% compared with the specimen without that process.