Strength and Microstructure of Sintered α-Silicon Carbide Prepared from Nano-Crystalline Particles Doped with Boron Carbide

Abstract

Flexural Strength, fracture toughness and microstructure of sintered silicon carbide doped with boron carbide prepared by pressureless sintering route from nano-crystalline silicon carbide particles (prepared by attrition grinding from an Acheson type α-SiC) were studied. The strength of the materials was characterized in terms of baseline strength, strength distribution and microstructure. The average flexural strength was found to be 390 MPa and average fracture toughness was 3.95 MPa.m^½.