Synthesis and characterization of polycrystalline Mo2BC ceramic.

• Polycrystalline Mo 2 BC ceramic bulks were successfully prepared from elemental powders by SPS route. • The synthesized temperature of Mo 2 BC ceramic was confirmed to be as low as 1300 ºC. • The lattice parameters of as-prepared Mo 2 BC ceramic were determined by TEM characterization. • For the first time, the mechanical properties of Mo 2 BC ceramic bulks were investigated. Single-phase polycrystalline Mo 2 BC ceramic bulks were synthesized successfully from molybdenum, boron, and graphite powders using the spark plasma sintering method. Herein, it was established that the synthesis temperature of the Mo 2 BC ceramic could be as low as 1300 °C. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) characterization confirmed that the crystal structure of the Mo 2 BC ceramic was comparable to that of the MoAlB ceramic. The Vickers hardness of the Mo 2 BC ceramic was measured to be 18.1 GPa. Additionally, the compressive strength, flexural strength, and fracture toughness were determined to be 1.74 GPa, 457.72 MPa, and 3.26 MPa· m1/2, respectively. The Mo 2 BC bulk exhibited typical brittle features, in which intergranular and transgranular fractures were the main failure modes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]