Comparison of residual carbon content and morphology of B4C powders synthesized under different conditions

Abstract

In this article, the impact of different B4C synthesis methods on the amount of residual carbon and the final morphology of the prepared ceramic particles was investigated. The main materials for the synthesis of B4C were glucose and boric acid, and the effects of adding tartaric acid and performing mechanical activation were studied. For this purpose, two methods of carbon dissolution and boron carbide oxidation were used to determine the amount of residual carbon in the ceramic products. The results of the investigations on the sample synthesized in optimal conditions showed that if additives and mechanical activation are not used, about 7 wt% of carbon will remain in the synthesized powder. The amount of carbon decreased to 5.7 wt% with mechanical activation, but the best result was obtained with the addition of tartaric acid, in which the amount of impurity dropped to 3.3 wt%. Finally, the size and morphology of B4C particles and carbon impurities were observed and compared using a scanning electron microscope.