Abstract: A composition and method for producing boron carbide/titanium diboride composite ceramic powders is disclosed. The process comprises the ordered steps of (a) intimately mixing as reactants boron carbide and a titanium source, such that the average reactant particle size is less than about 20 microns and substantially all discrete reactant areas are less than about 50 microns, and (b) reacting the product of step (a) under conditions sufficient to produce a boron carbide/titanium diboride composite ceramic powder wherein at least a portion of the boron carbide particles form substrates to which at least a portion of the titanium diboride particles are attached. The method can be used to produce a composite ceramic powder having boron carbide and titanium diboride particles less than about 20 microns in diameter.

Abstract: Metal boride powders can be produced with a predetermined particle size by controlling reaction conditions. The metal boride powder is produced by reacting a solid boron source, a metal source and a reductant under conditions sufficient to produce a metal boride powder with a particle size correlating to that of the solid boron source. The reaction is preferably stopped after the formation of products but before any appreciable crystal growth occurs.