Electrical properties of ZrB2-SiC ceramics with potential for heating element applications

ZrB2-10SiC, ZrB2-20SiC and ZrB2-30SiC ceramics were fabricated by hot pressing. The typical effects of volume fraction of SiC on the electrical properties were investigated. The electrical resistivities of as-prepared ZrB2-SiC ceramics increased as the volume fraction of SiC increased. The room temperature electrical resistivity values for ZrB2-10SiC, ZrB2-20SiC and ZrB2-30SiC ceramics were 6.54, 8.65 and 11.29 μΩ cm, respectively. ZrB2 acted as an electrical conductor and SiC acted as an electrical insulator in the ZrB2-SiC ceramics. The microstructure of ZrB2-SiC ceramics was also analyzed, which further proved the electrical resistivity measurement results.