ZrB₂-based composites were consolidated through reactive spark plasma sintering of the powder mixtures containing relatively 5 vol.% of metallic Zr particles, and graphite flakes (GF) or carbon nanotubes (CNT) as the carbon source, with the aim of ZrC in-situ synthesis in ZrB₂ matrix. Microstructural and phase analyses indicated that GFs cannot result in detectable ZrC in the final microstructure. Contrarily, it was found that CNTs promote the in-situ synthesizability of zirconium carbide in the composite system. However, the sample containing graphite flakes presented better densification outcomes. The mechanism of ZrC formation in the composites, based on the carbon source, was finally discussed and illustrated.

ZrB ₂基复合材料是通过反应性火花等离子体烧结对粉末混合物进行固结的，该粉末混合物包含相对于5体积％的金属Zr颗粒，并以石墨片（GF）或碳纳米管（CNT）为碳源，目的是将ZrC用于ZrB ₂基质中的原位合成。微观结构和相分析表明，GFs不能在最终的微观结构中导致可检测的ZrC。相反地​​，发现CNT在复合体系中促进碳化锆的原位合成。但是，含石墨薄片的样品表现出更好的致密化结果。最后讨论并阐明了基于碳源的ZrC在复合材料中形成的机理。