NSTU-NETI scientists are developing a technology that will increase the crack resistance of composite ceramics

"There are not many studies on composite ceramics based on boron carbide, there are problems that need to be solved, in particular, crack resistance. To increase the crack resistance of the material, there are several ways: you can use highly dispersed materials for the synthesis of such ceramics, combine the process of synthesis and compaction of ceramics, or introduce modified additives. In my dissertation work "Development of technology for manufacturing composite ceramic materials B4C-MeV2 (Me = Ti, Zr, Cr) using nanofiber carbon" I combined these three approaches. During the research, one of the components was nanofiber carbon (a highly dispersed carbon material), and boron carbide, synthesized at the Department of Chemistry and Chemical Technology, was also used. In addition, the synthesis of the material and its compaction (pressing) were combined. We also selected the numbers of modifying additives," said Tatyana Gudyma, a junior researcher at the Department of Chemistry and Chemical Technology at NSTU-NETI. As the researcher notes, boron carbide is an expensive material, it is used, for example, in the manufacture of body armor. It is good because it has a high hardness, but it is also very light. It will be much easier to wear such a bulletproof vest. In the manufacture of armored vehicles, it is also better to use a material that will not impede the structure. In addition, boron carbide is used for the nose of aircraft (this part is subjected to the highest loads), for the nozzles of sandblasting machines,and for absorbing rods in nuclear reactors. Crack resistance contributes to the fact that the material lasts longer, is not prone to cracking, and is better processed, giving the necessary shape. Similar studies are being conducted, but there are few publications on this topic. High temperatures and high loads are required for the synthesis of such ceramics, and this is due to the use of expensive equipment. According to the results of the study, three patents were obtained. At present, an optimal technology has been developed to increase the crack resistance of the material. "I separately added three substances to boron carbide: titanium diboride, zirconium diboride, and chromium diboride. Within the framework of each composition, different compositions were analyzed, certain dependencies were identified, and the optimal technology for each composition was selected. Last December, I defended my dissertation on this topic. In the future, I plan to combine all these three modifying additives within the framework of one ceramic and see how this will affect the mechanical characteristics of the material," Tatyana Gudyma added.