Mechanical Properties Of B4c Ceramics Fabricated By A Spark Plasma Sintering Process

B4C ceramics were fabricated by spark plasma sintering process and their sintering behavior, microstructure and mechanical properties were evaluated. Relative density of B4C ceramics were obtained by spark plasma sintering method reached as high as 99% at lower temperature than conventional sintering method, in addition, without any sintering additives. The mechanical properties of B4C ceramics was improved by a methanol washing process which can be removed B2O3 phase from a B4C powder surface. This improvement results from the formation of homogeneous microstructure because the grain coarsening was suppressed by the elimination of B2O3 phase. Particularly, fracture toughness of the sintered specimen using a methanol washed powder improved over 30 % compared with the specimen using an as-received commercial powder.