High Temperature Oxidation Behavior of Boron Carbide

The aim of this study is to determine the high temperature cyclic oxidation behavior of boron carbide (B 4 C) in air atmosphere at elevated temperatures. For this purpose, as-received powders were firstly characterized by XRD and SEM. Boron carbide powders were shaped by cold pressing for oxidation studies. Tests were performed in air atmosphere at 800˚C and 1000˚C for 5, 10, 15 and 20 hours. After each oxidation test, the mass changes were measured. XRD, SEM and EDS analyses were conducted on the oxidized samples and the results were discussed. It was observed that cyclic oxidation behaviors of the samples depended on temperature and time. Based on the analyses results and the microstructure observations, volatilization of B 2 O 3 had significant effect on the oxidation of the samples as the temperature increased.