Narrow Results

Spark plasma sintering (SPS) of pure commercially sub-micron B₄C powder at 1700–1900${}^{\circ }$C for 20min has been conducted and their wear properties have been investigated by reciprocating friction and wear test. It was found that the relative density increased with the increase and the grain size increased a little at 1700–1900${}^{\circ }$C. Wear mechanisms in the temperature range of 1700–1900${}^{\circ }$C have been proposed such that at 1700${}^{\circ }$C the wear mechanism was dominated by plastic deformation and intergranular fracture, while at 1800–1900${}^{\circ }$C there was transition to the surface fracture or grain pull-out. A model for the spherical abrasive wear was proposed to describe the friction and wear of the B₄C ceramics which is well-fitting with the experimental results.