Synthesis of boron carbide fine powder using carbon nanofibers

The synthesis of fine powder of boron carbide using carbon nanofibers (CNFs) was studied. The powders of boron carbide (B
₄
C) were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), elemental analysis, scanning electron microscope (SEM) equipped with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), BET surface area, simultaneous thermogravimetry and different scanning calorimetry (TG-DSC). The boron carbide, synthesized from the elements at a temperature of 1900 °C and synthesis time of 15-40 min had impurity content lower than 1.5 wt.% and the particle sizes of 100-500 nm. The oxidation of samples obtained, starts at the temperature of ~ 600 °C.