Fully dense B₄C ceramics fabricated by spark plasma sintering at relatively low temperature

Fully dense B₄C ceramics with excellent mechanical properties were fabricated using the spark plasma sintering method. Compared to the monolithic B₄C ceramics, the densification temperature of B₄C ceramics was substantially decreased by the addition of a small amount of Ti. The influences of Ti on the densification behaviour and the mechanical properties of B₄C ceramics were investigated. The as-sintered ceramics exhibited superior comprehensive mechanical properties, including a Vickers hardness of 32.1 GPa and flexural strength of 436.2 MPa, as well as fracture toughness of 5.49 MPa•m^0.5, owing to an enhancement in the relative density, decrease in the grain size and the blocking effects on crack propagation induced by the second phase particles.