Materials Science Forum, Vol.486-487, 245-248, 2005
Hardness and wear resistance of reaction bonded SiC-B4C composite
Hardness and wear resistant characteristics of reaction-bonded silicon carbides with boron carbide additions are evaluated relative to those of reaction bonded silicon carbide (RBSC). The reaction-bonded SiC-B4C composites exhibit a distinctive improvement of hardness and wear resistance, indicative of high resistance against wear environment. Removal rates for the wear tests are decisively reduced by the addition of boron carbide in the composites. Controlling the amount of carbon content in the starting composition more enhances the hardness of the reaction-bonded composites. Implications concerning the partial decomposition of B4C during reaction process are considered.