Microstructural Characteristics of Reaction-Bonded B4C/SiC Composite
  A detailed microstructural investigation was performed to understand structural characteristics of a reaction-bonded B$_4$C/SiC ceramic composite. The state-of-the-art focused ion beam & scanning electron microscopy (FIB/SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) revealed that the as-fabricated product consisted of core-rim structures with {\alpha}-SiC and $B_4$C cores surrounded by \beta-SiC and $B_4$C, respectively. In addition, plate-like \beta-SiC was detected within the $B_4$C rim. A phase formation mechanism was proposed and the analytical elucidation is anticipated to shed light on potential fabrication optimization and the property improvement of ceramic composites. 
Tianshi Wang, Chaoying Ni, Prashant Karandikar
cond-mat.mtrl-sci