Low temperature boron carbide synthesis

Boron carbide (B4C), the third hardest material in the World, was synthesized by carbothermic reduction reaction. Advanced ceramic B4C synthesis was performed by recyclable of agricultural wastes. Three different methods were applied in this study and the synthesis reactions were carried out under air, nitrogen, and argon gas atmosphere. In the first method, different amount of unprocessed nut shells and boron oxide mixture were heated at between 1000-1250 °C. In the second method, nut shells were carbonized by leaching in sulfuric for one week. Different amount of carbonized shells and boric acid were mixed and heated at between 1300-1450 °C. Finally, in the third method, activated charcoal was obtained from shells. B4C was synthesized by mixture of activated carbon and boric acid with different ratios at between 1400-1450 °C. After synthesis process, the obtained products were purified by classical hydrochloric acid treatment. The obtained B4C products were characterized by FTIR, XRD, and SEM analysis.