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Journals / Yenilikçi Mühendislik ve Doğa Bilimleri / 2026 / Volume: 6 Issue: 2

Sol–gel synthesis of boron carbide from a polyvinyl borate precursor: effect of heat treatment temperature on phase formation

Mustafa Çakır(MARMARA UNIVERSITY, FACULTY OF TECHNOLOGY)0000-0002-9409-2684
Kadir Seval(MARMARA UNIVERSITY, FACULTY OF TECHNOLOGY)0000-0002-1554-9982
Celil Güldaş(MARMARA UNIVERSITY)0009-0009-5299-0337
Pages
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Publication Date
2026-07-30
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AI Summary & Key Takeaways

AI Insight
⚡ TL;DR(Too Long; Didn't Read)

The XRD results indicated that boron carbide formation becomes more pronounced with increasing heat-treatment temperature.

📌 3 Key Takeaways

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Objective & Hypothesis:In this study, boron carbide (B₄C) was synthesized via the sol–gel method using polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and boric acid (H₃BO₃) as precursor materials.
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Key Findings & Data:After complete dissolution of PVA in water, boric acid was added to the solution, and the resulting mixture was filtered and subjected to pyrolysis at 600 °C.
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Conclusion & Impact:The XRD results indicated that boron carbide formation becomes more pronounced with increasing heat-treatment temperature.
🔬Design:Research Article
📍Scope:Comprehensive Sample
⚙️Variables:Boron carbide · Polyvinyl alcohol · Boric acid

Abstract

In this study, boron carbide (B₄C) was synthesized via the sol–gel method using polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and boric acid (H₃BO₃) as precursor materials. After complete dissolution of PVA in water, boric acid was added to the solution, and the resulting mixture was filtered and subjected to pyrolysis at 600 °C. The pyrolyzed precursor was subsequently heat-treated at 1200 °C, 1300 °C, and 1400 °C under an argon atmosphere. The phase evolution and structural characteristics of the synthesized products were analyzed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). Thermal behavior was evaluated using thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), while the microstructural features of selected samples were examined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The XRD results indicated that boron carbide formation becomes more pronounced with increasing heat-treatment temperature. In particular, the sample treated at 1300 °C exhibited diffraction peaks corresponding to rhombohedral B₄C. TGA results showed relatively lower mass loss for this sample, suggesting improved thermal stability compared with the other samples. In contrast, the sample treated at 1400 °C exhibited changes in mass loss behavior that may be associated with the formation of additional phases during thermal analysis under a nitrogen atmosphere. Overall, the results suggest that heat treatment at 1300 °C provides favorable conditions for the formation of boron carbide within the investigated temperature range. The sol–gel route employed in this study offers a simple and potentially energy-efficient approach for the synthesis of boron carbide powders.

Özet

Bu yapılan çalışmada, bor karbür sol–jel yöntemi ile polivinil alkol (PVA) ve borik asitten çıkılarak sentezlenmiştir. Yapmış olduğumuz bu çalışmada, PVA su içerisinde tamamen çözüldükten sonra borik asit ilave edilmiş, elde edilen karışım süzülerek önce 600C de piroliz edilmiş daha sonra ise 1200C,1300C ve 1400C de argon atmosferi altında ısıl işleme tabi tutulmuştur. Elde edilen bor karbürün yapısal olarak doğrulanması FT-IR ve XRD ile yapılmıştır. Termal özellikleri TGA ile analiz edilmiş olup, mikro yapısal özellikleri ve morfolojisi SEM ile incelenmiştir. Yapılan analizlere göre, 1300C de yapılan ısıl işlemin bor karbürün (B4C) faz oluşumu açısından en uygun sıcaklık olduğu saptanmıştır. Bu sıcaklıkta elde edilen numunelerin, daha az kütle kaybı ve termal olarak daha kararlı bir yapı oluşturduğu saptanmıştır. Öte yandan, 1400C de yapılan ısıl işlemde ise azot atmosferi altında bor nitrür oluşumunu destekleyen kütle kaybı değişimleri görülmüştür. Yapılan bu çalışma neticesinde elde edilen sonuçlara göre sol-jel yöntemi ile bor karbür sentezi, kontrollü faz oluşumu ve homojen bir mikro yapı elde edilmesinden dolayı etkili bir yöntem olduğunu göstermiştir.

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Cite This Article

Çakır, M., Seval, K., Güldaş, C. (2026). Sol–gel synthesis of boron carbide from a polyvinyl borate precursor: effect of heat treatment temperature on phase formation. Yenilikçi Mühendislik ve Doğa Bilimleri, Volume: 6 Issue: 2. https://doi.org/10.61112/jiens.1850543

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