Fabrication of ZrB2–ZrC-based composites by reactive melt infiltration at relative low temperature

An attractive way to prepare ZrB2–ZrC-based composites at relative low temperature was proposed and confirmed experimentally. The thermodynamics calculations indicated the reaction between B4C and Zr2Cu was feasible at as low a temperature as 1100 °C. The experimental results showed that ZrB2–ZrC-based composites could be fabricated by heating Zr2Cu-covered B4C preforms to 1200 °C for 6 h in vacuum. Further, the microstructure features and mechanical properties were discussed.