Sintering and Mechanical Properties of Chromium Boride-chromium Carbide Composites

Several boride sintered bodies such as $TiB_2$, $ZrB_2$, and $SiB_6$ were previously reported. In the present study, the sinterability and physical properties of chromium boride $(CrB_2)$ containing chromium carbide $(Cr_3C_2)$ sintered bodies were investigated in order to determine its new advanced material. The samples were sintered at desired temperature for 1 hour in vacuum under a pressure by hot pressing. The relative density of sintered bodies was measured by Archimedes' method. The relative densities of $CrB_2$ addition of 0, 5, 10, 15 and 20 mass% $Cr_3C_2$ composites were 92 to 95%. The Vickers hardness of the $CrB_2$ with 10 and 15 mass% $Cr_3C_2$ composites were about 14 and 15 GPa at room temperature, respectively. The Vickers hardness at high temperature of the $CrB_2$ addition of 10 mass% $Cr_3C_2$ composite decreased with increasing measurement temperature. The Vickers hardness at 1273 K of the sample was 6 GPa. The Vickers hardness of $CrB_2$ addition of $Cr_3C_2$ composites was higher than monolithic $CrB_2$ sintered body. The powder X-ray diffraction analysis detected CrB and $B_4C$ phases in $CrB_2$ containing $Cr_3C_2$ composites.