Boron Carbide

Boron carbide is a superhard and lightweight ceramic material. As a result of these characteristics, it used as a protective component in bulletproof vests, tank armour and also has many other industrial applications (eg: tooling, abrasives). Research on boron carbide remains active given a long-standing challenge to understand its complex failure behavior in extreme environments owing to its unique microstructure and mechanical properties, where many current efforts are underway to improve its behavior through microstructure alteration via additives that form secondary phases, chemical doping, and altering the chemical composition of the boron-to-carbon ratio in the crystal structure. This book covers some of the key challenges involving boron carbide that are currently being studied by many materials scientists and ceramists. The authors who are active in this research field have prepared the chapters for this book and specific topics covered highlight the state-of-the art research in structure, processing, properties and applications. The organization of the book is designed to provide an easy understanding for students and professionals interested in advanced material for novel applications.

This publication presents cleaning and etching solutions, their applications, and results on inorganic materials. It is a comprehensive collection of etching and cleaning solutions in a single source. Chemical formulas are presented in one of three standard formats - general, electrolytic or ionized gas formats - to insure inclusion of all necessary operational data as shown in references that accompany each numbered formula. The book describes other applications of specific solutions, including their use on other metals or metallic compounds. Physical properties, association of natural and man-made minerals, and materials are shown in relationship to crystal structure, special processing techniques and solid state devices and assemblies fabricated. This publication also presents a number of organic materials which are widely used in handling and general processing...waxes, plastics, and lacquers for example. It is useful to individuals involved in study, development, and processing of metals and metallic compounds. It is invaluable for readers from the college level to industrial R & D and full-scale device fabrication, testing and sales. Scientific disciplines, work areas and individuals with great interest include: chemistry, physics, metallurgy, geology, solid state, ceramic and glass, research libraries, individuals dealing with chemical processing of inorganic materials, societies and schools.

V. I. MATKOVICH During the meeting of the International Symposium on Boron held in October, 1972 in Tbilisi, U.S.S.R., the idea was proposed to assemble a review of boron and refractory borides by the specialists present. The advantages of such a work were immediately apparent. Such diverse applications of borides as in protective armor, nuclear reactors, coat ings, reinforcement, etc. can hardly all be presented in sufficient detail by a single author. On the other hand it was also recognized that with so much specialization, some areas of interest may not be covered. Within the last decade or two a number of areas have been developed in which the use of refractory borides is growing and improvements are being actively explored. Thus, a number of borides have considerable potential as reinforcing material for plastics or light metals, though only boron fibers have been firmly established up to the present. Ap plication of flakes and films for two-dimensional reinforcement appears attractive, although the high cost of materials and development repre sents a considerable barrier. A number of borides have been used to manufacture lightweight protec tive armor. In this area relatively fast changes seem to be taking place as improvements in performance and weight are made. Boron carbide has found considerable use in this application and new developments exploit the light weight of beryllium borides.

Carbides, nitrides and borides are families of related refractory materials. Traditionally they have been employed in applications associated with engineering ceramics where either high temperature strength or stability is of primary importance. In recent years there has been a growing awareness of the interesting electrical, thermal and optical properties exhibited by these materials, and the fact that many can be prepared as monolithic ceramics, single crystals and thin films. In practical terms carbides, nitrides and borides offer the prospect of a new generation of semiconductor materials, for example, which can function at very high temperatures in severe environmental conditions. However, as yet, we have only a limited understanding of the detailed physics and chemistry of the materials and how the preparation techniques influence the properties. Under the auspices of the NATO Science Committee an Advanced Research Workshop (ARW) was held on the Physics and Chemistry of Carbides, Nitrides and Borides (University of Manchester, 18-22 September, 1989) in order to assess progress to date and identify the most promising themes and materials for future research. An international group of 38 scientists considered developments in 5 main areas: The preparation of powders, monolithic ceramics, single crystals and thin films; Phase transformations, microstructure, defect structure and mass transport; Materials stability; Theoretical studies; Electrical, thermal and optical properties of bulk materials and thin films.

It has been three decades since the last significant book was published on SiC ceramics (other than those books that specifically focus on SiC semiconductors). Thirty years has been a long time in the world of SiC ceramics. In the early 1990s, SiC was still a relatively obscure ceramic even within the materials community, prominent only as an industrial abrasive (carborundum), and a refractory (Chapter 7). This has all changed dramatically in the 21st century. For example, As a semiconductor, SiC greatly surpasses silicon in performance, especially in high-power systems. Its market penetration since its launch in 2001 has been exponential. Single-crystal SiC semiconductors are covered in Chapter 3 Millions of military and paramilitary personnel have globally been protected with lightweight SiC body armour, since the late 1990s. Body armour is covered in Chapters 4 and 5 SiC–SiC is a composite material close to commercialization that makes possible high-temperature load-bearing applications hitherto only able to be hypothesized: from ultra-high-temperature jet turbine blades to advanced nuclear fuel encapsulation, the possibilities are very promising. Aerospace applications are covered in Chapter 9 Other key areas that are addressed are blast-resistant SiC vehicle/vessel armour in Chapter 8 and wear-resistant SiC ceramics in Chapter 6 Silicon Carbide Ceramics will be an essential reference resource for academic and industrial researchers and materials scientists and engineers working in ceramic materials for the semiconductor, defence, aerospace, wear resistance and refractory fields Presents an extensive review of the history, production and properties of SiC ceramics, including their characterization and applications Discusses classical and state-of-the-art sintering technologies for SiC ceramics Focuses on the future of ceramic manufacturing and advanced ceramic additive technologies