Strength of pure alumina ceramics above 1 GPa

Up to now, commercially available alumina ceramics were claimed to have strength between 400 and 550 MPa. However, our study shows strength ~ 2 times higher for commercially available alumina than commonly believed. The average and characteristic strength, measured on 31 pure alumina ceramic discs by ball on three balls (B3B) test, were 1205 ± 93 MPa and 1257 MPa, respectively, with a Weibull modulus of m = 11.8. Tested specimens were in form of discs with a diameter of 5 mm and thickness 0.5 mm. The grain size distribution of the alumina is bimodal with an average grain size of ~ 850 nm measured at the surface. The fracture reveals a mixed transgranular / intergranular failure mode. To avoid incorporation of additional flaws, the discs were tested as sintered. The characteristic flexural strength measured in B3B was recalculated according to Weibull theory for standard 4-point bending bars of size 3 × 4 × 45 mm as bend 856 MPa. The measured strength of nearly 900 MPa shows the potential of strength for high purity alumina ceramics.     

Preparation and corrosion resistance of cordierite–spodumene composite ceramics using zircon as a modifying agent

To prolong the service life of cordierite–spodumene composite ceramics applied to the solar heat transmission pipeline, the zircon modifier was introduced to improve the corrosion resistance of the ceramics. The effects of zircon on the density, bending strength, crystalline phase, microstructure and chemical stability were studied. The results showed that the sintering temperature range of the composite ceramics was broadened to 40–60?°C with the introduction of 5–15?wt% zircon. Moreover, the mechanical strength and corrosion resistance of the ceramic materials were improved with the zircon introduction. In particular, sample C3 containing 15?wt% of zircon and sintered at 1360?°C exhibited the best performance, which had the 0.03% Wa, 0.07% Pa, 2.34?g?cm^?3 Db and 100.17?MPa bending strength. After acid and alkali corrosion, the water absorption was still less than 0.5% and the strength loss rate decreased to less than 5.3%. The XRD and SEM analyses demonstrated that the ZrSiO₄ grains dispersed at the grain boundaries could enhance the mechanical properties. Furthermore, the existence of the Zr⁴⁺ ions not only reduced the cationic solubility of the glassy phases but also led to a reaction with OH^? to form Zr(OH)₄ on the surfaces. This improved the corrosion resistance of the composite ceramics and endowed it with a high residual strength after the acid and alkali corrosion.     

Synergistic reinforcement of surface modification on improving the bonding of veneering ceramics to zirconia

Veneering ceramics should be strongly bonded to zirconia core in order to achieve successfully long-term clinical practice. Indeed, to pursue the high zirconia core–veneering ceramic bonding is still a concerned issue. In this regard, this study was to treat zirconia surface using a 3?wt% Si₃N₄ solution in 4?M NaOH and to investigate the effect of soaking time (5, 10, and 20 days) on the surface properties of zirconia and shear bond strength between zirconia and veneering ceramics. The residual veneering ceramics on zirconia surfaces and failure modes were also examined after fracture. The results showed that the phase composition of zirconia before and after surface modification was not changed. The elemental mapping and depth profiling consistently revealed the soaking-time-dependent Si content on the zirconia surface. The surface roughness of zirconia was significantly (P?<?0.05) increased with the increasing soaking time. When zirconia was treated for 10 days, the shear bond strength value of 27.4?MPa was significantly (P?<?0.05) higher than the control (18.6?MPa), associated with greater remaining amounts of veneering ceramics on the zirconia surface. The failure mode of the treated zirconia was almost the mixed failure. On the basis of the data, surface modification using Si₃N₄ in NaOH solution for zirconia core could be a simple and effective method for enhancing the veneering ceramic–zirconia bonding.     

The fabrication and mechanical properties of SiC/SiC composites prepared by SLS combined with PIP

Traditionally, SiC components with complex shapes are very difficult or even impossible to fabricate. This paper aims to develop a new manufacturing process, combining selective laser sintering (SLS), cold isostatic pressing (CIP) and polymer infiltration pyrolysis (PIP), to manufacture complex silicon carbide parts and improve the mechanical properties of silicon carbide ceramic parts. The density and porosity of SiC/SiC composites were measured. Furthermore, the mechanical properties of the specimens with cold isostatic pressing and the specimens without cold isostatic pressing were compared. The bending strength of the specimens with cold isostatic pressing was 201?MPa, and the elastic modulus was 1.27?GPa. And, the bending strength of the specimens without cold isostatic pressing was 142?MPa, and the elastic modulus was 0.88?GPa. Increasing the density of SiC/SiC can enhance the mechanical properties of SiC/SiC composites.     

Optical and thermo-mechanical properties of fine-grained transparent yttria ceramics fabricated by hot-press sintering for infrared window applications

In this work, highly transparent yttria ceramics Φ?=?55?mm in size were fabricated by a hot-pressing method with 1 at.% ZrO₂ or 12 at.% La₂O₃ as a sintering additive. For a 4-mm-thick specimen doped with ZrO₂, the in-line transmittance reaches 71.1% at 400?nm and 80.9% at 1100?nm, and the transmittance of the La₂O₃-doped specimen is comparable to that of the ZrO₂-doped specimen. By means of the relatively low sintering temperature of 1600?°C, the present samples exhibited very fine microstructures (<2?μm), giving rise to excellent mechanical strength levels (～200?MPa). With regard to the 1 at.% ZrO₂-doped specimen, the combination of high strength and high thermal conductivity (～10 W/m?K) substantially improved parameters related to the thermal shock resistance. The results of this study indicate that the hot-pressed transparent yttria ceramic doped with 1 at.% ZrO₂ is optically, mechanically, and thermally suitable for high-temperature IR window applications.     

硅渣和玻璃粉直接烧结制备多孔材料的气孔结构与力学性能

以硅渣和玻璃粉为原料,采用粉体直接烧结法制备多孔材料,研究了烧结温度(700~900℃)、烧结时间(15~120min)和升温速率(10~100℃·min^-1)对多孔材料表观密度、气孔率、物相组成、抗压强度的影响。结果表明:气孔结构均匀性随烧结温度的升高而降低;表观密度随烧结温度的升高先减小后增大,随保温时间的延长而增大,随升温速率的增大而减小,气孔率的变化趋势与表观密度的相反;多孔材料的主要物相为玻璃相和硅、SiC、SiO2、Ca2Al2SiO7等结晶相,且结晶度随烧结温度的升高而降低;抗压强度随烧结温度的升高呈先增大后减小的趋势;当烧结温度为750℃,升温速率为30℃·min^-1,烧结时间为30 min时,多孔材料的主晶相为硅和Ca2Al2SiO7,抗压强度最大(1.60MPa),表观密度为0.43g·cm^-3,气孔率为80%。     

某轻型载货车储气罐支架振动断裂分析与优化

为了有效解决某轻型载货车储气罐支架的断裂故障,首先基于建立的储气罐支架有限元模型进行振动特性分析,分析结果表明其前三阶固有频率接均处于发动机激励频率范围之外,不会产生共振。其次测试各种道路的时域载荷,测试结果表明其中角度搓板路的激励频率与储气罐支架第一阶固有频率相接近,从而引起共振,不满足振动特性要求。然后对其进行振动强度分析,分析结果表明其应力水平不达标,其最大应力点与开裂处一致。再对其进行振动疲劳寿命预测分析,分析结果表明其疲劳寿命也不达标,其危险点也与失效位置相同。再采用集成平台对储气罐支架的结构进行优化设计,优化之后其模态频率、振动强度和振动疲劳均符合性能要求,并且其重量也有所减轻,总体优化效果较佳。最后整车试验结果表明优化之后储气罐支架的振动大幅度降低,并且没有发生失效。     

高应力下花岗岩抗剪强度参数特征试验研究

为促进深部矿产资源的安全高效开采,基于取自程潮铁矿西区-395m水平的主要围岩花岗岩的试件,通过伺服试验系统开展高应力下的常规三轴压缩强度试验,研究花岗岩的破坏、强度和参数特征。研究结果表明:1)随着围压的增加,花岗岩的破坏形式由剪切破坏逐渐向剪切劈裂复合型破坏转变,破坏形态由单一破坏断面逐渐转变为多破坏断面,破坏断裂角逐渐减小。2)花岗岩的三轴强度和抗剪强度与围压的关系在低围压下基本均呈线性,在高围压下则均呈上凸的非线性。3)花岗岩抗剪强度参数具有明显的围压效应特征,具体表现为凝聚力和内摩擦角随着围压的增加分别呈逐渐增大和减小的趋势。结合Hoek-Brown准则对瞬态抗剪强度参数的确定进行了初探,结果表明参数推导值的变化趋势符合参数试验规律,但推导值与试验值存在一定的差异,说明Hoek-Brown准则在表征高应力下岩石三轴强度的非线性上仍存在局限,有待进一步研究。