Synthesis and characterization of layered quaternary Mo4/3Lu2/3AlB2 ceramics fabricated by spark plasma sintering

A new high-purity i-MAB phase of Mo4/3Lu2/3AlB2 ceramic (95.06 wt% Mo4/3Lu2/3AlB2 and 4.94 wt% MoB) was successfully synthesized with Mo, Al, Lu, and B as raw materials by spark plasma sintering at 1250 degrees C. The dense sample with a high relative density of 98.9 % possessed good physical and mechanical properties. The average thermal expansion coefficient from room temperature to 1200 degrees C was determined to be 8.38 x 10 6 K  1. The heat capacity, thermal conductivity, and electrical conductivity were measured to be 0.28 J & sdot;g  1 & sdot;K  1, 9.90 W & sdot;m  1 & sdot;K  1, and 1.22 x 106 omega 1 & sdot;m  1 at room temperature, respectively. Additionally, Vickers hardness was tested to be 10.29 GPa under a load of 10 N, fracture toughness was determined to be 5.13 MPa & sdot;m1/2, and compressive and flexural strengths were tested to be 1567 MPa and 468 MPa, respectively. Present research adds a new member to the family of structural-functional ceramics.