Multipurpose boron carbide-aluminum composite and its manufacture via the control of the microstructure

Patent · Tue Oct 27 04:00:00 EST 1987

OSTI ID:5975349

Pyzik, A J; Aksay, I A

A method of making a boron carbidealuminum composite is described comprising: heating a particulate boron carbide in the presence of free carbon to 1800/sup 0/-2250/sup 0/C wherein the resulting boron carbide exhibits a substantially reduced reaction rate with aluminum; and reacting the boron carbide with aluminum, wherein a boron carbide-aluminum composite is formed having a microstructure including principally boron carbide and aluminum metal homogeneously distributed throughout the composite. A method is described of making a boron carbide-aluminum composite of selected ceramic and metal content and microstructure, having high fracture toughness, fracture strength and Young's modulus, and low density. It consists of: dispersing a particulate boron carbide of less than 10 micrometers particle size in water at a pH selected to maximize electrostatic repelling forces on boron carbide particle surfaces; consolidating the boron carbide into a porous compact; sintering the compact, whereby an open porous structure is retained; infilterating the compact with aluminum; and heat treating the compact, whereby a voidless composite is formed having microstructure phases.

• Assignee: Washington Research Foundation, Seattle, WA
• Patent Number(s): US 4702770
• OSTI ID: 5975349
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
360201* -- Ceramics
Cermets
& Refractories-- Preparation & Fabrication
360202 -- Ceramics
Cermets
& Refractories-- Structure & Phase Studies
ALUMINIUM COMPOUNDS
BORON CARBIDES
BORON COMPOUNDS
CARBIDES
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CERAMICS
CHEMICAL PREPARATION
COMPOSITE MATERIALS
CRYSTAL STRUCTURE
DENSITY
FABRICATION
FRACTURE PROPERTIES
HEAT TREATMENTS
HEATING
MATERIALS
MECHANICAL PROPERTIES
MICROSTRUCTURE
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
SINTERING
SYNTHESIS
VERY HIGH TEMPERATURE
YOUNG MODULUS