Structure and Properties of Ceramics Based on Tungsten and Titanium Borides and Boron Carbide

The W^sub 2^B -- TiB^sub 2^ -- B^sub 4^C ceramics studied were hot-pressed from composite powders synthesized by thermal reduction of boron carbide. The resulting materials have a skeleton structure with a boron carbide binder when the B^sub 4^C content is high and an inclusion-matrix structure when the B^sub 4^C content is low. The grain size varies from 5 to 20 μm, depending on the preparation conditions. The composite has a hardness of 17.5-20 GPa with a strength in the range 500-1000 MPa.[PUBLICATION ABSTRACT]