Investigation the effect of FeNiCoCrMo HEA addition on properties of B4C ceramic prepared by spark plasma sintering

In this study, monolithic B4C and B4C-based ceramics incorporating FeNiCoCrMo dual-phase (FCC and BCC) high entropy alloys (HEAs) were produced by spark plasma sintering (SPS). The effect of additives on the densification behavior, mechanical properties, microstructures, and phase evaluation of the samples were investigated. X-ray analysis confirmed the existence of FCC structured HEA and depletion of BCC structured HEA, after high temperature reaction between B4C-HEAs. The addition of HEAs enhanced the densification behavior by liquid phase sintering. Furthermore, hardness and fracture toughness values of the samples increased with increasing HEAs content. Fracture toughness and hardness values for all composites were higher than the monolithic B4C. A combination of the highest density (similar to 99.22 %) and the best mechanical properties (32.3 GPa hardness and 4.53 MPa m(1/2) fracture toughness) was achieved with 2.00 vol.% HEA addition.