Pressureless Sintering and Characterization of Al₂O₃-SiO₂-ZrO₂ Composite

Abstract:

An Oxide Ceramic-Based Composite in the Al₂o₃-Sio₂-Zro₂ (ASZ) System Was Developed and Investigated Using a Pressureless Sintering Route. the Effect of the Content of each Component and Sintering Temperature upon the Microstructure, Density, Hardness and Strength Was Studied. X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) and Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM) Were Used to Investigate the Phase Transformation Sequences of the ASZ Composite System. the Flexural Strength Was Measured Using Three-Point Bending Method on a Universal Testing Machine, while the Indentation Fracture (IF) Method Was Used to Determine the Fracture Toughness of the Composite. the Results Showed that, with Varying Zro₂ Content, Keeping the Silica Content Constant and the Alumina as a Matrix, Densification Tends to Decrease as the Content of Zirconia Increases from 20 Wt. % of the Composition. X-Ray Diffraction Peaks Indicated Fully Developed Alumina, Mullite and Zirconia Phases due to Solid-Phase Reaction and Liquid-Phase Sintering of the System. the Experimental Results Also Revealed that, for a Sintering Temperature of 1500°C, the Hardness Value Ranged from 12 Gpa to 14 Gpa and the Flexural Strength Was 420±31MPa.The Fracture Toughness (K_Ic) Was Also Reported to Be between 4.5 and 5.1 Mpa.m^1/2, for Samples Sintered at a Temperature of 14500C.

• Periodical: Defect and Diffusion Forum (Volume 329)
• Pages: 113-128
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/DDF.329.113
• Online since: July 2012
• Authors: G. Mebrahitom Asmelash, Othman Mamat
• Keywords: Alumina, CMC, Pressureless Sintering, Silica, Zirconia

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