Properties of B4C/Al–B4C composite with a two-layer structure

In order to obtain a material with a promising bulletproof performance, a two-layer structure composite consisting of B4C/Al-B4C was obtained using a two-step method for both hot pressing and infiltration aluminum in vacuum. Before aluminum infiltration the B4C porous layer of the two-layer preform looked like a three-dimensional network of interconnected capillaries. For the B4C ceramics layer the microstructure showed no apparent change before and/or after aluminum infiltration. The two-layer composite showed improved fracture toughness than that of B4C material and higher comprehensive hardness than that of B4C-Al material.

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► A two-layer B4C/Al-B4C preform was synthesized by hot pressing.
► B4C porous layer looked like a network of interconnected capillaries.
► A two-layer B4C/Al–B4C composite was prepared by vacuum infiltration.
► The composite showed improved fracture toughness compared to B4C material.