Microstructure and properties of B4C-SiC composites prepared by polycarbosilane-coating/B4C powder route

B4C-SiC composites with fine grains were fabricated with hot-pressing pyrolyzed mixtures of polycarbosilane-coated B4C powder without or with the addition of Si at 1950 °C for 1 h under the pressure of 30 MPa. SiC derived from PCS promoted the densification of B4C effectively and enhanced the fracture toughness of the composites. The sinterability and mechanical properties of the composites could be further improved by the addition of Si due to the formation of liquid Si and the elimination of free carbon during sintering. The relative density, Vickers hardness and fracture toughness of the composites prepared with PCS and 8 wt% Si reached 99.1%, 33.5 GPa, and 5.57 MPa m1/2, respectively. A number of layered structures and dislocations were observed in the B4C-SiC composites. The complicated microstructure and crack bridging by homogeneously dispersed SiC grains as well as crack deflection by SiC nanoparticles may be responsible for the improvement in toughness.