High-temperature oxidation of hot-pressed boron carbide

Thermogravimetric analysis was used to study oxidation of hot-pressed boron carbide under isothermal conditions at temperatures of up to 1250 deg c. It was shown that boron carbide oxidation at temperatures of up to 1100 deg c is limited by diffusion of oxygen and carbide components through b2o3 oxide layer. The rate of b2o3 evaporation exceeds the rate of b4c oxidation ranging from 1200 deg c and the process is limited by the reaction of carbide with air oxygen. It was established that the fine oxide layer is present on the surface of basic material