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Synthesis and Characterization of NanoComposite Superhard Materials

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  26 February 2011

Yusheng Zhao ,
Duanwei He ,
Jiang Qian  and
Jianzhong Zhang
Yusheng Zhao
Affiliation:
yzhao@lanl.govLos Alamos National LaboratoryLos Alamos Neutron Science CenterLANSCE-LC, MS-H805Los AlamosNM87545United States505-667-3886505-665-2676
Duanwei He
Affiliation:
duanweihe@yahoo.comSichuan UniversityInstitute of Atomic and Molecular PhysicsChendu, Sichuan Province610065China, People's Republic of
Jiang Qian
Affiliation:
jqian@ussynthetic.comUS Synthetic1260 South 1600 WestOremUT84058United States
Jianzhong Zhang
Affiliation:
jzhang@lanl.govLos Alamos National LaboratoryLos Alamos Neutron Science CenterLANSCE-LC, MS-H805Los AlamosNM87545United States
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Abstract

We have developed a novel method of reactive sintering under high pressure and high temperature conditions and have successfully synthesized bulk and nanostructured BC2N, BC4N, and diamond-SiC composites. The keys to this success are the careful preparation of precursor materials through high energy ball-milling and sensible tuning of the sintering conditions (pressure, temperature, and sintering time), leading to the formation of nano-scale features in the final synthesis products. The indentation measurements indicate that BC2N and BC4N have the Vickers hardness of 62 and 68 GPa, respectively, making them the second hardest materials known, second only to diamond. The high P-T reactive sintering results in a nanostructured diamond-SiC composite of high uniformity, low porosity, minimum residual silicon, and minimal quantities of graphite. It tunes subtle interplays of P-T-t to have fine control of thermodynamics and kinetics in the formation of diamond-SiC nanocomposites with nanocrystalline SiC matrix. The surface defects of micron/nano-diamonds are consumed by amorphous/molten silicon in the formation of nanocrystalline SiC matrix. It in turn greatly reduces the forming/mobility of microcracks thus leads to significant enhancement of fracture toughness (by as much as 50%) of the nano-composites without much compromising of hardness. The present study shows how to design/proceed a well controlled nano-synthesis so as to achieve great improvement in nano-mechanics for advance technological applications.

Keywords

hardnesstoughnessnanostructure
Type
Research Article
Information
MRS Online Proceedings Library (OPL) , Volume 987: Symposium PP – Materials Research at High Pressure , 2006 , 0987-PP01-11
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2007

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