Preparation,texturing and mechanical properties of ZrB 2 –WSi 2 ceramics via reactive hot pressing and hot forging

Abstract

ZrB₂–WSi₂ ceramics with platelet shaped ZrB₂ grains were fabricated via reactive hot pressing by the reaction of Zr, B, W and Si. Hot forging was then used to form a textured microstructure in the ceramics. The ceramics obtained by reactive hot pressing demonstrated higher flexural strength than the corresponding ZrB₂–MoSi₂ ceramics in our previous study, owing to the moderate platelet ZrB₂ grain size and the intrinsic properties of WSi₂. During hot forging, the platelet ZrB₂ grains rotated and rearranged orderly under the pressure, forming textured microstructure with anisotropic properties; however, there is a decrease in flexural strength, owing to the excessive large grain growth during the high temperature hot forging process.