Joining of B4C by Al–Si infiltrated TiC tape: Effect of Si content on joint microstructure and corrosion resistance

B4C ceramics were strongly bound by TiC tape interlayers that were infiltrated by Al–xSi (x = 0, 6, 12 and 18 wt.%) melts at 1000 °C for 0.5 h in vacuum. The measured bending strengths of B4C joints are higher than 210 MPa and these joints usually fracture from substrates for the good binding at interface and within interlayer on the basis of microstructure examinations. After corrosion tests, all B4C joints display a decreasing tendency in bending strength but their retained strengths increase from 35 MPa to 146 MPa with the increase of Si addition. The improved corrosion resistance is mainly attributed to the presence of Ti(Al, Si)3 and TiSi2 compounds instead of pure Al as binder phases in the interlayer.