Spark Plasma Sintering and Characterization of B₄C-ZrB₂-GNP Composites

Boron carbide (B4C) is a material that exhibits exceptional characteristics, including low density, high melting point, high hardness, high wear resistance, high neutron absorption, and other remarkable properties that are considered a favorable material in many areas such as aerospace, military, and nuclear industry. However, B4C suffers from low densification and fracture toughness, limiting its applications. To overcome the difficulties of B4C, recent studies have proposed alternative methods like spark plasma sintering (SPS) and using a secondary phase as an additive and reinforcement in the matrix. Zirconium diboride (ZrB2) and graphene nanoplatelets (GNP) became effective materials for improving composite performance. In this regard, the present research has been carried out to investigate the effects of adding different amounts of GNP (1, 2, and 3 vol.%) into B4C-ZrB2 composites prepared by SPS. Their densification, microstructure, hardness, and fracture toughness were examined with the GNP addition.