Preparation of B4C composites toughened by TiB2-SiC agglomerates

High-performance B 4 C composites toughened by TiB 2 -SiC agglomerates were fabricated via reactive hot pressing with B 4 C, TiC and Si as raw materials. The TiB 2 -SiC composite serves as a composite toughening phase formed in the B 4 C matrix through an in situ reaction; its agglomerates are composed of interlocked TiB 2 and SiC, which can remarkably improve the toughness of the B 4 C composites. The Vickers hardness , flexural strength and fracture toughness of the B 4 C-TiB 2 -SiC composite reached 35.18   ±   0.45   GPa, 567   ±   14   MPa, and 6.38   ±   0.18   MPa   m 1/2 respectively. The special toughening structure of the TiB 2 -SiC composite introduced into B 4 C ceramics was evaluated for the first time in this study.