High pressure low temperature hot pressing method for producing a zirconium carbide ceramic

A method of producing hot-pressed monolithic ZrC, comprising:

• raising a pressure applied to a powder consisting of ZrC of 99.5% purity until a final pressure of 40 to 60 MPa is reached;
• raising a temperature of the ZrC powder until a final temperature between 1800 and 2200° C. is reached;
• placing the ZrC powder and an inert gas into a container;
• forming a grain size of the monolithic ZrC of less than 12 microns;
• and
• compressing the monolithic ZrC to 96%-98% of a theoretical density, wherein the raising the pressure further comprises:
• raising the pressure at a first rate until a first pressure is reached;
• maintaining the first pressure;
• raising the pressure at a second rate until a second pressure is reached;
• raising the pressure at a third rate until a third pressure is reached;
• and
• raising the pressure at a fourth rate until the final pressure is reached.