Synthesis of NaB₅C bulk ceramics by reaction sintering

Bulk ceramics of NaB₅C were prepared by heating compact bodies of amorphous boron (B) and carbon black (C) powders with Na at 1073 K. The obtained bulk ceramics retained the rectangular shape of their original compacts. The obtained samples had a density of 80.1 ± 0.6% of the theoretical density of NaB₅C. NaB₅C bulk ceramics were also prepared by heating compacts comprised of B and C powders and Na. The addition of Na to the starting compact bodies increased the relative bulk density to 83.5 ± 0.4%. A fracture bending strength of 195 MPa was measured for the NaB₅C bulk sample prepared from the compact of Na, B, and C.