Titanium boron carbide ceramics

Ceramics (qv) such as those in Table 12 find high temperature use to over 800°C (32). Advanced ceramics finding interest include alumina, partially stabilized zitconia, siUcon nitride, boron nitride, siUcon carbide, boron carbide, titanium diboride, titanium carbide, and sialon (Si—Al—O—N) (33) (see... 

Carbide-based cermets have particles of carbides of tungsten, chromium, and titanium. Tungsten carbide in a cobalt matrix is used in machine parts requiring very high hardness such as wire-drawing dies, valves, etc. Chromium carbide in a cobalt matrix has high corrosion and abrasion resistance it also has a coefficient of thermal expansion close to that of steel, so is well-suited for use in valves. Titanium carbide in either a nickel or a cobalt matrix is often used in high-temperature applications such as turbine parts. Cermets are also used as nuclear reactor fuel elements and control rods. Fuel elements can be uranium oxide particles in stainless steel ceramic, whereas boron carbide in stainless steel is used for control rods. 

Metals and ceramics (claylike materials) are also used as matrices in advanced composites. In most cases, metal matrix composites consist of aluminum, magnesium, copper, or titanium alloys of these metals or intermetallic compounds, such as TiAl and NiAl. The reinforcement is usually a ceramic material such as boron carbide (B4C), silicon carbide (SiC), aluminum oxide (A1203), aluminum nitride (AlN), or boron nitride (BN). Metals have also been used as reinforcements in metal matrices. For example, the physical characteristics of some types of steel have been improved by the addition of aluminum fibers. The reinforcement is usually added in the form of particles, whiskers, plates, or fibers. 

Although few applications have so far been found for ceramic matrix composites, they have shown considerable promise for certain military applications, especially in the manufacture of armor for personnel protection and military vehicles. Historically, monolithic ("pure") ceramics such as aluminum oxide (Al203), boron carbide (B4C), silicon carbide (SiC), tungsten carbide (WC), and titanium diboride (TiB2) have been used as basic components of armor systems. Research has now shown that embedding some type of reinforcement, such as silicon boride (SiBg) or silicon carbide (SiC), can improve the mechanical properties of any of these ceramics. 

The different types of boron nitride composites cited can be reinforced with fibrous materials such as titanium alloy fibers [287], Si/Zr oxynitride fibers [288], SiOg/TiOg/ZrOg fibers [289], and carbon fibers [290 to 292, 313] (see also Section 4.1.1.10.1, p. 58). BN-containing oxide and carbide ceramics are used to protect graphite from being attacked in metallurgical processes [293 to 295]. Porous ceramics and ceramic foams which can be infiltrated either with metals or lubricants may contain a-BN or are produced in boron nitride ceramic molds [296 to 299]. 

The development of ceramic materials for armor since 1970 has been extensive, In addition to alumina and titanium diboride, the most widely used ceramic materials are silicon carbide, boron carbide, and aluminum nitride, as monolithic plates and shapes, which are bonded to a fibrous laminate of fiberglass or Kevlar . A typical impact sequence is shown in Fig. 16.2. On impact, the ceramic plate fractures the projectile core and absorbs a major part of the kinetic energy. The backing material absorbs the residual energy. 

Baharvandi H. Hadian A Alizadeh A. (2006). Processing and Mechanical Properties of Boron Carbide-titanium Diboride Ceramic Matrix Composites. Applied Composite Materials, Vol. 13, No. 3, May, 2006, pp. 191-198, ISSN0929189X Basu B. Vleugels J. Biest O. (2005). Processing and Mechanical Properties of Zr02-TiB2 Composites. Journal of the European Ceramic Society, Vol. 25, No.l6, May,2005, pp.3629- 3637, ISSN 09552219... 

Ceramic-coated disposable inserts, including silicon nitride, boron nitride, titanium nitride (TIN), titanium carbide (TIC) and sintered synthetic diamond ... 

In the following sections some examples are given of the ways in which these principles have been utilized. The first example is the use of these techniques for the low temperature preparation of oxide ceramics such as silica. This process can also be used to produce alumina, titanium oxide, or other metal oxides. The second example describes the conversion of organic polymers to carbon fiber, a process that was probably the inspiration for the later development of routes to a range of non-oxide ceramics. Following this are brief reviews of processes that lead to the formation of silicon carbide, silicon nitride, boron nitride, and aluminum nitride, plus an introduction to the synthesis of other ceramics such as phosphorus nitride, nitrogen-phosphorus-boron materials, and an example of a transition metal-containing ceramic material. 

Recent research has explored a wide variety of filler-matrix combinations for ceramic composites. For example, scientists at the Japan Atomic Energy Research Institute have been studying a composite made of silicon carbide fibers embedded in a silicon carbide matrix for use in high-temperature applications, such as spacecraft components and nuclear fusion facilities. Other composites that have been tested include silicon nitride reinforcements embedded in silicon carbide matrix, carbon fibers in boron nitride matrix, silicon nitride in boron nitride, and silicon nitride in titanium nitride. Researchers are also testing other, less common filler and matrix materials in the development of new composites. These include titanium carbide (TiC), titanium boride (TiB2), chromium boride (CrB), zirconium oxide (Zr02), and lanthanum phosphate (LaP04). 

Numerous ceramics are deposited via chemical vapor deposition. Oxide, carbide, nitride, and boride films can all be produced from gas phase precursors. This section gives details on the production-scale reactions for materials that are widely produced. In addition, a survey of the latest research including novel precursors and chemical reactions is provided. The discussion begins with the mature technologies of silicon dioxide, aluminum oxide, and silicon nitride CVD. Then the focus turns to the deposition of thin films having characteristics that are attractive for future applications in microelectronics, micromachinery, and hard coatings for tools and parts. These materials include aluminum nitride, boron nitride, titanium nitride, titanium dioxide, silicon carbide, and mixed-metal oxides such as those of the perovskite structure and those used as high To superconductors. 

When zirconium silicate (ZrSi04) or a mixture of Z1O3 and SiOj is reacted with aluminum in the presence of aluminum oxide and then rdieated, zirconium silicide (ZrSi ) becomes the major product. Titanium dioxide (TiOs) and boron (111) oxide (BgO,) with aluminum similarly form titanium boride (TiBs). If the reduction of the oxides such as TiOg or Si02 with aluminum is performed in the presence of carbon black, the carbides TiC and SiC are formed embedded in aluminum oxide. This subject is also treated in a British patent titled Autothermic Fired Ceramics. ... 

Accountius O, Sisley H, Sheblin S, Bole G, Oxidation resistances of ternary mixtures of the carbides of titanium, silicon and boron, J Amer Ceramic Soc, 37(4), 173-177, 1954. 

Until recently, the great majority of ceramic fibers were made from oxides such as alumina or mullite. But in the last few years, much woric has been done to develop practical processes for the production of other fiber materials, especially the refr actory carbides and nitrides. This work is beginning to bear results especially with silicon carbide fibers vt4iich have now reached full-scale production. Other materials such as silicon nitride, boron nitride, aluminum nitride, titanium carbide, hafriium carbide, and hafiiium nitride are at die development stage or in pre-production.l d... 

MMCs are usually reinforced by either monofilaments, discontinuous fibers, whiskers, particulates, or wires. With the exception of wires, which are metals, reinforcements are generally made of advanced ceramics such as boron, carbon, alumina and silicon carbide. The metal wires used are made of tungsten, beryllium, titanium, and molybdenum. Currently, the most important wire reinforcements are tungsten wire in superalloys and superconducting materials incorporating niobium-titanium and niobium-tin in a copper matrix. The most important MMC systems are presented in Table 18.5. 

Polycrystalline cubic boron nitride (CBN) is a material with excellent hot hardness and can be used at very high cutting speeds. It also has good toughness and resistance to thermal shock. CBN consists of boron nitride with ceramic or titanium nitride binder and is brazed onto a cemented carbide carrier to form an insert. CBN grades are largely used for finish turning hardened steel... 

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