Electrical properties of ZrB2–SiC ceramics with potential for heating element applications

ZrB2–10SiC, ZrB2–20SiC and ZrB2–30SiC ceramics were fabricated by hot pressing. The typical effects of volume fraction of SiC on the electrical properties were investigated. The electrical resistivities of as-prepared ZrB2–SiC ceramics increased as the volume fraction of SiC increased. The room temperature electrical resistivity values for ZrB2–10SiC, ZrB2–20SiC and ZrB2–30SiC ceramics were 6.54, 8.65 and 11.29 μΩ cm, respectively. ZrB2 acted as an electrical conductor and SiC acted as an electrical insulator in the ZrB2–SiC ceramics. The microstructure of ZrB2–SiC ceramics was also analyzed, which further proved the electrical resistivity measurement results.