Synthesis and characterization of boron-based ceramic nanofibers via electrospinning technique

Boron carbide (B4C), one of the most popular boron compounds, possesses high hardness, low density, high melting point, and chemical inertness. In the synthesis of ceramic materials like boron carbide, polymer and composite nanofibers and nanotubes are considered among the most attractive materials in nanotechnology. Due to their small size and large surface area, these materials offer unique mechanical, optical, electronic, magnetic, and chemical properties for various applications. In this study, boron carbide ceramic nanofibers were synthesized via the electrospinning method from a solution of boric acid (H3BO3) and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) prepared with different starting ratios. In this context, the effects of production parameters such as the applied voltage, solution flow rate, and the distance between the needle tip and the substrate were examined, and optimal production conditions were determined. Heat treatment was applied to the fibers to achieve the necessary phase transformations. After the calcination process conducted in the air at 500°C for 2 hours, elemental boron (twice the weight of the material) and pure magnesium powder (four times the weight of the material) were added to the ground material. The samples were then pressed into pellets under 4 atm pressure and sintered at 1300°C for 2 hours in an argon atmosphere at a heating rate of 5°C/min. Necessary characterization procedures (FT-IR, XRD, and SEM) were performed at all stages of fiber production, including solution preparation, electrospinning, and before and after thermal treatment. As a result of the study, boron carbide nanofibers with diameters in the range of 300-400 nm were successfully produced.