Papers by Author: Christos G. Aneziris

Abstract: The low thermal expansion (α25-1100oC = 0.05 ~ 1.6 × 10–6/K) of Al2TiO5 ceramics are apparently due to a combination of grain boundary micro cracking caused by the large thermal expansion anisotropy of the crystal axes of the Al2TiO5 phase. During the reheating run, the individual crystallites expanded at low temperature; thus, the solid volume of the specimen expanded into the micro cracks, where as the macroscopic dimensions remained almost unchanged. As a result, the material expanded very little. The micro cracks closed at higher temperatures. This result is closely related to relatively steeper thermal expansion curves.

Abstract: High temperature structural ceramics based on Al2TiO5-ZrTiO4 (ZAT) having excellent thermal-shock-resistance were synthesized by a reaction sintering. The ZAT ceramics sintered at 1600oC had a negative thermal expansions up to 1000oC and a much lower thermal expansion coefficient (0.3 ~ 1.3 x 10-6 /K) than that of polycrystalline Al2TiO5 (1.5 x 10-6 /K). These low thermal expansion are apparently due to a combination of microcracking caused by the large thermal expansion anisotropy of the crystal axes of the Al2TiO5 phase. The microstructural degradation of the composites after various thermal treatment for high temperature applications were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, ultrasonic and dilatometer.