Abstract
ZrB2 powders were prepared from a mixture of ZrO2, B2O3 and Mg by self-propagating high temperature synthesis method. The combustion product was successfully obtained from a mixture of ZrO2:B2O3:Mg=1:2:8.5 molar ratio. By-product, MgO was effectively removed by leaching with 1M HCl solution at 9$0^{\circ}C$ for over 5hours. After leaching, the Mg content was 0.86~1.42 wt%, and the mean particle size was 4.72${\mu}{\textrm}{m}$. The addition of 7.5 wt%(14Ni:1.0C) as a sintering aid greatly densified ZrB2 bodies compared with that of only Ni. The ZrB2 sintered bodies containing 7.5 wt%(14Ni:1.0C) was 94.3% of the theoretical density. In this case, ZrB2 existed as a major phase and had a bend strength of 300 MPa and a vickers hardness of 2000 kg/$\textrm{mm}^2$.