Method of obtaining multicomponent fine-grained powders for boron carbide matrix ceramics production

The paper presents a low-temperature method for the synthesis of tungsten boride containing ultra-fine powders of boron carbide matrix ceramics constituting an important class of superhard materials with diversity of industrial applications. Wet chemical method was used to prepare preceramic precursors. The technique provides annealing of a viscous paste of the mixture of ammonium paratungstate-zirco nium(IV) oxide-cobalt acetate tetrahydrate-sucrose-amorphous boron at 200 degrees C in air and then at 600 degrees C in argon atmosphere for 2 h with the further grinding and additional annealing of the obtained powders at 800-1500 degrees C. Hot pressing of the complex ceramic powders at 1000-1700 degrees C was realized by using the SPS method. It was established that at 600 degrees C there were formed WO3-x, Co3O4, CoO, and amorphous carbon. The XRD data confirmed low temperature (800-1000 degrees C) formation of WC-Co, ZrB2, B4C, and W2B5. Tungsten carbide was completely converted into tungsten boride. Structuralmorphological characteristics of the obtained samples were studied by using the SEM. (c) 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. Selection and peer-review under responsibility of the scientific committee of the 17th International Conference on Advanced Nano Materials.