Ceramics-Silikáty 64, (4) 434 - 446 (2020)

Boron carbide (B₄C) synthesis from a polymeric precursor is an alternative to a traditional carbothermal reduction, promising low energy consumption and production costs, particularly for a polymeric precursor such as polyvinyl borate (PVBO). The sol-gel technique is preferred in the production of polymeric precursors owing to its convenience in producing single-source reactants for synthesizing B₄C at low temperatures (˂ 1800 °C). The sol-gel parameters, such as the composition, viscosity, and pH, affect the formation of the polymeric precursor. In this study, industrial-grade partially hydrolyzed PVA and technical-grade boric acid (H₃BO₃) are used to produce PVBO. We aim to specify the viscosity and pH values for different ratios of PVA:H₃BO3₃. A sample with a weight ratio of PVA:H3BO3 of 1:1 (PHD101) is determined to have the optimum process parameters. Calcination is performed between 500 °C and 700 °C for 1-3 h to produce a single-source reactant, which consists of boron oxide (B₂O₃) and carbon. It was observed that B₂O₃ was distributed on the nano-scale level in the carbon matrix. The reactant is heat-treated at 1400 °C for 5 h and crystalline, polyhedral, and irregular B₄C particles are synthesized at low temperatures from industrial grade raw materials.