Improving Mechanical Properties of Ceramic Composites by Harmonic Microstructure Control

Abstract:

In this research, several ceramic composites such as SiC-ZrO₂, Al₂O₃-ZrO₂, and Si₃N₄-ZrO₂ containing nominally equal ratio 1:1 were prepared through high energy mechanical milling and spark plasma sintering. The relationship of microstructure and mechanical properties were investigated. Harmonic microstructures consisting of fine and ultra-fine grains forming a network were obtained by the optimum milling time for 144ks with high mechanical properties. The non-milled powder mixtures and too long milling time powder mixtures have low mechanical properties sintered by spark plasma. The crack propagates through ultra-fine grains and deflected by larger fine grains were obtained on the harmonic microstructure sample resulting in high toughness. Thus, the harmonic microstructure can be considered a remarkable design tool for improving the mechanical properties of SiC-ZrO₂, Al₂O₃-ZrO₂, and Si₃N₄-ZrO₂ as well as other ceramic composites.

• Periodical: Advanced Materials Research (Volume 896)
• Pages: 570-573
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/AMR.896.570
• Online since: February 2014
• Authors: Lydia Anggraini*, Ryohei Yamamoto, Kazuma Hagi, Fujiwara Hiroshi, Kei Ameyama
• Keywords: Harmonic Microstructure, Mechanical Milling, Spark Plasma Sintering (SPS), Toughness

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