Microstructure of Al2O3-ZrO2 nanocomposites prepared by combustion process

• Published in: Journal of materials science letters 1997-05, Vol.16 (9), p.719-721
• Main Authors: KIM, W.-J, JI YEON PARK, SEOK JIN OH, YOUNG SUK KIM, IL HIUN KUK
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Building materials. Ceramics. Glasses; Ceramic industries; Chemical industry and chemicals; Exact sciences and technology; Miscellaneous; Technical ceramics
• ISSN: 0261-8028
• DOI: 10.1023/A:1018568711690

The high toughness of ZrO2-toughened Al2O3 (ZTA) is attributed to its stress-induced tetragonal to monoclinic phase transformation. This mechanical property of ZTA is known to be optimized by controlling the ZrO2 particle size, the size distribution and agglomerates, and by the uniform spatial distribution of ZrO2 particles throughout the Al2O3 matrix. It has recently been reported that a combustion process has been successfully applied to the synthesis of homogeneous ZTA composite powders. In the method, fine oxide powders could be produced by the combustion of redox mixtures containing an oxidizer and a fuel. This approach for the synthesis of fine powders is, in principle, a self-propagating high-temperature synthesis in a liquid medium. In this study ZTA ceramics were fabricated by powder prepared from the combustion process, and the sintered microstructure of the ZTA ceramics was examined. The combustion-synthesized ZTA powder is expected to have the unique property of producing a homogeneous microstructure, with the ZrO2 particles located both at the grain boundaries and within the Al2O3 matrix grains. (AIAA)