Papers by Author: P. Goeuriot

Abstract: Mullite–zirconia composites were synthesized through reaction sintering Algerian kaolin, α-Al2O3, and ZrO2. Phases present and their transformations were characterized using x-ray diffraction. Quantitative phase analysis was performed following the Rietveld method. Hardness and fracture toughness were measured by Vickers indentation. The flexural strength was measured using a Universal Testing Machine. It was found that the microstructure of samples sintered for 2 hours at 1600°C was composed of mullite grains which have whiskers’ shape and ZrO2 particles. In the composite containing 16 wt.% ZrO2, the ratio of tetragonal zirconia transformed to monoclinic zirconia was relatively small and did not exceed 18%. However, in the composite containing 32 wt.% ZrO2 around 75% of the tetragonal structure changed to monoclinic structure. Also, it was found that the increase of ZrO2 content from 0 to 32 wt.% decreased the microhardness of the composites from 14 to 10.8 GPa. However, the increase of ZrO2 content from 0 to 24wt.% increased the flexural strength of the composites from 142 to 390 MPa then decreased it with further increase of ZrO2 content. The fracture toughness increased from 1.8 to 2.9 MPa.m1/2 with the increase of ZrO2 content from 0 to 32 wt.%; and the rate of the increase decreased at higher fractions of ZrO2 content. The average linear coefficient of thermal expansion (within the range 50 to 1450°C) for samples containing 0 and 16 wt.% ZrO2 sintered at 1600°C for 2 hours was 4.7 x10-6 K-1 and 5.2 x 10-6 K-1 respectively.

Abstract: In the present work, the structure and sintering behaviour of mullite-zirconia composites were investigated. The composites were prepared by reaction sintering of Algerian kaolin, α-Al2O3, and stabilized zirconia (3Y-TZP). The raw materials were wet ball milled in a planetary ball mill followed by attrition. The green samples shaped using a uniaxial press were sintered between 1100°C and 1600°C for 2 hours. The density was measured by the water immersion method. Phases present and change of the average crystallite size of the mullite phase as a function of sintering temperature and ZrO2 content were characterized through X-ray diffraction. Mulite grains had whiskers' shape; however, the increase of ZrO2 content changed the morphology of grains to near spherical shape. The microstructure of the samples revealed uniform distribution of ZrO2 particles; also, aluminium was uniformly distributed on all grains exception on zirconia grains. At least a relative density of 95 % was achieved for all samples at a relatively lower sintering temperature of 1500°C. In composites containing up to 16 wt. % ZrO2, the zirconia phase retained its tetragonal structure and the transformed part did not exceed 3 %. However, with the addition of 32 wt. % ZrO2 around 66 % of the tetragonal structure changed to monoclinic structure.

Abstract: Ceramic compacts can be usually prepared by uniaxial pressing in a die made of stainless steel, but the pressure applied is limited and density gradients occur in many cases. Recently a new forming method in powder metallurgy, the High Velocity Compaction (HVC) has been applied to ceramic powders. This method is similar to conventional pressing but consists in making an ram falling down at a very high speed to the upper punch. The kinetic energy is converted into a strike that produces a high pressure in a really short time. By controlling the kinetic energy, it is possible to apply a desired pressure that can be extremely high (up to 1 GPa) without any damage for the tool. The aim of the study is to compare the process conditions and the properties of green compacts elaborated by the two methods (conventional and HVC) for a similar forming pressure: forming pressure, green density (homogeneity), pore size distribution of the tablets, and then the sintering behavior, the shrinkage, the final density and microstructure of the ceramic material are studied.