Densification mechanisms and microstructural evolution during spark plasma sintering of boron carbide powders

摘要

Micron-sized boron carbide (B4C) powders were subjected to spark plasma sintering (SPS) under temperature ranging from 1700 degrees C to 2100 degrees C for a soaking time of 5, 10 and 20 min and their densification kinetics was determined using a creep deformation model. The densification mechanism was interpreted on the basis of the stress exponent n and the apparent activation energy Q(d) from Harrenius plots. Results showed that within the temperature range 1700-2000 degrees C, creep deformation which was controlled by grain -boundary sliding or by interface reaction contributed to the densification mechanism at low effective stress regime (n = 2,Q(d) = 459.36 kJ/mol). While at temperature higher than 2000 degrees C or at high stress regime, the dominant mechanism appears to be the dislocation climb (n = 6.11).