Reaction-formed W2B5/C composites with high performance

Highly densified W2B5/C composites with W2B5 content from 30 to 70 vol% were fabricated by reaction hot pressing of the powder mixture of B4C, WC and carbon black. The reaction products were identified by XRD analysis to consist of only W2B5 and carbon, regardless of carbon content. The reaction formed composites have excellent mechanical properties (the maximum flexural strength and fracture toughness of 786 MPa and 8.9 MPa m1/2 respectively), electrical conductivity (the highest electrical conductivity of 1.64 × 106 Ω−1 m−1), and resistance to both wear and oxidation because of the presence of the plate-like W2B5 grains. In this paper, the preparation, microstructure and properties of this new composite are investigated, and the strengthening, toughening, conduction mechanisms are discussed.