Patent ID: 8110165

Claim:
A process for manufacturing boron carbide objects comprising the steps of: (a) pre-washing a raw boron carbide powder with an organic solvent selected from the group consisting of isopropyl alcohol, ethyl alcohol, methyl alcohol, acetone, and a combination thereof, said pre-washing including mixing for about 24 hours, followed by drying the washed boron carbide; (b) mixing the washed boron carbide powder with a carbon precursor selected from the group consisting of phenolic resin, aqueous solution of a polysaccharide, and mixture of two or more saccharides; (c) drying the mixture; (d) granulating the dried mixture; (e) compacting the granulated dried mixture to form a shaped object by applying a pressure thereto; (f) carbonizing the shaped body in an inert atmosphere, by dwelling at a high temperature for a predetermined period of time; and (g) sintering the carbonized shaped body at a temperature between 2300° C. and about 2350° C. in an inert atmosphere for a time period of not less than about 30 min.