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Enhanced mechanical properties of nanocrystalline boron carbide by nanoporosity and interface phases

Author

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  • K. Madhav Reddy

    (WPI Advanced Institute for Materials Research, Tohoku University)

  • J.J. Guo

    (WPI Advanced Institute for Materials Research, Tohoku University)

  • Y. Shinoda

    (Materials and Structures Laboratory, Tokyo Institute of Technology)

  • T. Fujita

    (WPI Advanced Institute for Materials Research, Tohoku University)

  • A. Hirata

    (WPI Advanced Institute for Materials Research, Tohoku University)

  • J.P. Singh

    (U.S. Army Research Laboratory, Aberdeen Proving Ground)

  • J.W. McCauley

    (U.S. Army Research Laboratory, Aberdeen Proving Ground)

  • M.W. Chen

    (WPI Advanced Institute for Materials Research, Tohoku University
    State Key Laboratory of Metal Matrix Composites, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University
    CREST, JST)

Abstract

Ceramics typically have very high hardness, but low toughness and plasticity. Besides intrinsic brittleness associated with rigid covalent or ionic bonds, porosity and interface phases are the foremost characteristics that lead to their failure at low stress levels in a brittle manner. Here we show that, in contrast to the conventional wisdom that these features are adverse factors in mechanical properties of ceramics, the compression strength, plasticity and toughness of nanocrystalline boron carbide can be noticeably improved by introducing nanoporosity and weak amorphous carbon at grain boundaries. Transmission electron microscopy reveals that the unusual nanosize effect arises from the deformation-induced elimination of nanoporosity mediated by grain boundary sliding with the assistance of the soft grain boundary phases. This study has important implications in developing high-performance ceramics with ultrahigh strength and enhanced plasticity and toughness.

Suggested Citation

  • K. Madhav Reddy & J.J. Guo & Y. Shinoda & T. Fujita & A. Hirata & J.P. Singh & J.W. McCauley & M.W. Chen, 2012. "Enhanced mechanical properties of nanocrystalline boron carbide by nanoporosity and interface phases," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 3(1), pages 1-7, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:3:y:2012:i:1:d:10.1038_ncomms2047
    DOI: 10.1038/ncomms2047
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    Cited by:

    1. Bing Deng & Zhe Wang & Weiyin Chen & John Tianci Li & Duy Xuan Luong & Robert A. Carter & Guanhui Gao & Boris I. Yakobson & Yufeng Zhao & James M. Tour, 2022. "Phase controlled synthesis of transition metal carbide nanocrystals by ultrafast flash Joule heating," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-10, December.
    2. Haiyue Xu & Wei Ji & Jiawei Jiang & Junliang Liu & Hao Wang & Fan Zhang & Ruohan Yu & Bingtian Tu & Jinyong Zhang & Ji Zou & Weimin Wang & Jinsong Wu & Zhengyi Fu, 2023. "Contribution of boundary non-stoichiometry to the lower-temperature plasticity in high-pressure sintered boron carbide," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-10, December.

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