Papers by Author: Pei Ling Wang

Abstract: ZrB2-SiC based composites with 0,5 and 15 vol% addition of ZrC were synthesized via reactive hot pressing at 1800°C using Zr, Si and B4C as raw materials. The mechanical properties of the composites were investigated. The composite of ZSC15 that contained 15 vol% of ZrC has the highest hardness. ZSC5 with 5 vol% of ZrC owns a most homogenous microstructure and the highest fracture toughness and flexural strength.

Abstract: Current high temperature ceramics, such as ZrO2, Si3N4 and SiC, cannot be used at temperatures over 1600°C due to their low melting temperature or dissociation temperature. For ultrahigh temperature applications over 1800°C, materials with high melting points, high phase composition stability, high thermal conductivity, good thermal shock and oxidation resistance are needed. The transition metal diborides, mainly include ZrB2 and HfB2, have melting temperatures of above 3000°C, and can basically meet the above demands. However, the oxidation resistance of diboride monolithic ceramics at ultra-high temperatures need to be improved for the applications in thermal protection systems for future aerospace vehicles and jet engines. On the other hand, processing science for making high performance UHTCs is another hot topic in the UHTC field. Densification of UHTCs at mild temperatures through reactive sintering is an attracting way due to the chemically stable phase composition and microstructure as well as clean grain boundaries in the obtained materials. Moreover, the stability studies of the materials in phase composition and microstructures at ultra high application temperatures is also critical for materials manufactured at relatively low temperature. Furthermore, the oxidation resistance in simulated reentry environments instead of in static or flowing air of ambient pressure should be evaluated. Here we will report the concept, advantages and some recent progress on the reactive sintering of diboride–based composites at mild temperatures.

Abstract: Mixtures of 12 mol% CeO2-stabilised ZrO2 with 5 to 20 wt % Al2O3 were prepared and densified through pressureless sintering in air at 1450° C for 1 to 4 h. The influence of the Al2O3 content and sintering time on the phase constitution, microstructure and mechanical properties of the as-sintered composites were investigated. Fully dense Ce-TZP/Al2O3 ceramics with a good combination of hardness and fracture toughness can be obtained by pressureless sintering in air for only 1 h. The addition of Al2O3 to Ce-TZP improves the mechanical properties and suppresses ZrO2 grain growth. The average ZrO2 grain size increases with increasing sintering time and decreasing Al2O3 content. This leads to an increase in toughness. An excellent fracture toughness of 14.3 MPam1/2 in combination with a Vickers hardness of 9.14 GPa was obtained for 12 mol % CeO2-TZP with 5 wt % Al2O3, sintered for 4 h.