Boron Rich Boron Carbide: An Emerging High Performance Material

Abstract

The focus of this research article is on the requirement, preparation and application of an improved material system composed of boron and carbon. These are known as boron rich boron carbides. The ability to form BRBC other than widely studied B4C composition through solid state reactive processes; hold an appeal owing to their potential for a variety of application in tribological, refractory, ballistic, nuclear energy, aerospace and other manufacturing industries. Study of the boron-carbon phase diagram, combined with the available literatures on ‘low yield’ vapor deposition processes and boron doping of B4C to prepare BRBC provided the impetus for this investigation on BRBC through solid state reactive processes, mainly micropyretic and plasma. This article summaries the ‘high yield’ experimental studies carried out for obtaining BRBC and their encouraging performance with respect to existing B4C composition based products.