Boron carbide-reactive metal cermets having microstructure tailored by post-densification heat treatment

摘要

Boron carbide-reactive metal cermets can be prepared by consolidating a mixture of boron carbide powder and a particulate source of a metal that reacts with boron carbide to produce dense, soft, cermets in near net shape. The cermets can be hardened to produce a final multiphase microstructure having increased fracture toughness and hardness by a post-denssification heat treatment.