RT Journal Article T1 Synthesis and characterization of mechanical properties of boron–carbon-based superhard composites A1 Kommel, Lembit A1 Omranpour Shahreza, Babak AB In this work, we investigated a modern combined processing technique for the synthesis of lightweight superhard composites based on boron–carbon. We used traditional B4C with precipitates of free graphite and Al powder as initial materials. In the frst stage, the composites were fabricated by the self-propagating high-temperature synthesis (SHS) with the subsequent hot pressing of the compound. Further, by the disintegration and attrition milling, the ultrafne-grained powder was obtained. We used HCl and HNO3 acids for the chemical leaching of the powder to remove various impure compounds. At the last stage, a solid composite was obtained by the spark plasma sintering (SPS) method under nitrogen pressure. The main feature of this approach is to implement diferent synthesis techniques and chemical leaching to eliminate soft phases and to obtain superhard compounds from low-cost materials. The phases were studied by X-ray difraction and scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive spectroscopy. The composites compacted by the SPS method contained superhard compounds such as B13C2, B11.7C3.3, and c-BN. The fabricated composite has an ultrafne-grained microstructure. Using a Berkovich indenter, the following nanohardness results were achieved: B13C2~ 43 GPa, c-BN~ 65 GPa (all in Vickers scale) along with a modulus of elasticity ranging between~400 GPa and~450 GPa. PB Springer Nature SN 1976-4251 YR 2022 FD 2022-06-07 LK https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14352/71871 UL https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14352/71871 LA eng NO CRUE-CSIC (Acuerdos Transformativos 2022).MSCACOFUND-2018-UNA4CAREER—Grant no. 847635Proyecto "UNA Europa, una alianza de universidades PARA el surgimiento de talentos y el desarrollo de carreras de investigación" NO Unión Europea. Horizonte 2020 DS Docta Complutense RD 9 abr 2025