(Hf, Zr, Ta)B2-SiC Ultra-high Temperature Ceramics: Design, Fabrication, Mechanical Properties and Microstructure Evolution Mechanisms

doi:10.15541/jim20260203

Abstract

Abstract: The development of next-generation high-speed aircraft has created an urgent demand for high-performance thermal structure materials. In this study, a series of (Hf, Zr, Ta)B₂-SiC ultra-high temperature ceramics (UHTCs) were fabricated by reactive hot pressing (RHP) with different Ta : Hf(Zr) ratios, and their mechanical properties and mechanisms were systematically studied. First, (Hf, Zr, Ta)B₂ solid solution powders with different Ta : Hf(Zr) ratios were synthesized by boro/carbothermal reduction. Subsequently, the addition of Si enabled low-temperature (1800 °C) densification via RHP, with SiC formed in situ. The microstructural evolution during RHP was systematically analyzed, which clarified the effect of Si content on densification behavior and mechanical properties. Results show that with 7% (in mass) Si, the apparent porosity of (Hf, Zr)B₂-SiC ceramics was only 0.5%. The flexural strength and fracture toughness reached 386 MPa and 2.71 MPa·m^1/2, respectively. Furthermore, the effect of the Ta : Hf(Zr) ratio on the microstructure and mechanical properties of (Hf, Zr, Ta)B₂-SiC ceramics was systematically investigated. The addition of Ta effectively suppressed grain growth and refined the microstructure. As the Ta : Hf(Zr) ratio increased, the hardness and flexural strength of the ceramics improved. This work establishes a foundation for the design, fabrication, and performance optimization of multicomponent UHTCs.

Key words: (Hf,Zr,Ta)B₂, SiC, reactive hot pressing, densification, mechanical property

CLC Number:

TQ174.1

LIU Jinglong, HU Yang, WANG Xiaoyu, CHEN Bowen, CAI Feiyan, KAN Yanmei, DING Yusheng, DONG Shaoming, WANG Zhen, NI Dewei. (Hf, Zr, Ta)B₂-SiC Ultra-high Temperature Ceramics: Design, Fabrication, Mechanical Properties and Microstructure Evolution Mechanisms[J]. Journal of Inorganic Materials, DOI: 10.15541/jim20260203.

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(Hf, Zr, Ta)B₂-SiC Ultra-high Temperature Ceramics: Design, Fabrication, Mechanical Properties and Microstructure Evolution Mechanisms

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