EFFECTS OF FUNCTIONAL ADDITIVES ON THE SHS OF BORON CARBIDE

SHS (Self-propagating High-temperature Synthesis) is one of the important methods to synthesize B4C powders. The process contains the reaction of boron oxide powders (B2O3) with magnesium reducing agent and carbon black carburizer. SHS products are leached in HCl media to purify synthesized B4C powders in the following step. In the present study, effects of various functional additives (KClO3, KHSO4, MgSO4 center dot 7H(2)O, NaCl, MgO and Na2SO4) in the SHS stage were carried out. Various proportions of the additives were mixed with the initial SHS charge mixtures. Two different molar ratios were employed in the initial SHS mixtures as 1:3:0.8 B2O3: Mg:C and 1:2.5:0.8 B2O3: Mg: C. After the SHS step, HCl1 leaching process was applied to the SHS products. Filter cakes were dried and characterized by using X-Ray Diffraction Spectroscopy, BET and chemical analysis techniques