Journal of Inorganic Materials

   

Preparation and Properties of Ytterbium Aluminosilicate Glass and SiC Modified h-BN-Based Composites

ZHANG Yongheng1,2, CHEN Jixin1   

  1. 1. Institute of Metal Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang 110016, China;
    2. School of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Science and Technology of China, Shenyang 110016, China
  • Received:2025-04-07 Revised:2025-05-10
  • Contact: Chen Jixin, Associate professor. E-mail: jxchen@imr.ac.cn
  • About author:Zhang Yongheng (1994-), male, PhD candidate. E-mail: yhzhang18s@imr.ac.cn

Abstract: Hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) ceramics are significant in the industrial applications, however, their special layered structure, combined with low strength and hardness, limits its application. In this study, ytterbium aluminum silicate (YbAS) glass and hard SiC particle were simultaneously introduced as reinforcing phases, and a series of h-BN/YbAS/SiC composites were prepared by in-situ reaction hot pressing sintering techniques. With the volume fraction of YbAS glass was fixed at 30%, the effect of SiC content on the properties of the composites was studied. The results demonstrate that the synergistic effect of YbAS glass and SiC can effectively enhance the strength and toughness of h-BN based composites. The composite exhibited optimal mechanical performance when the SiC volume fraction reached 30%, yielding flexural strength, compressive strength, fracture toughness, Vickers hardness, and elastic modulus values of (462 ± 5) MPa, (1465 ± 58) MPa, (5.5 ± 0.3) MPa·m1/2, (4.7 ± 0.3) GPa, and 140 GPa, respectively. The strengthening mechanism is identified as follows: when the SiC content reaches a certain proportion, it plays a supporting role, effectively bearing external loads to enhance the composites. Moreoever, SiC can effectively suppress the growth of h-BN grains during the sintering process, contributing to fine-grained strengthening. The composites also have good high-temperature mechanical properties and relatively low thermal conductivity, with the thermal expansion coefficient being related to the structure of h-BN and the transition temperature of YbAS glass. This study provides an effective approach for the strengthening and toughening of h-BN ceramic materials.

Key words: h-BN-based composites, YbAS glass, SiC, mechanical properties, thermal properties

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