Effect of the microstructure on the mechanical properties of a directionally solidified Y3Al5O12/Al2O3 eutectic fiber

The strength and fracture behaviors of a directionally solidified Y₃Al₅O₁₂/Al₂O₃ eutectic fiber were investigated. The fiber was grown continuously by an edge-defined film-fed growth (EFG) technique. The microstructure was characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS). The room temperature tensile strength and Weibull's modulus of the eutectic fiber before and after heat treatment at 1460°C were measured. The fracture toughness and crack propagation behaviors were investigated using an indentation technique. Significant coarsening of the lamellar microstructure was observed after heat treatment at 1460°C in air. The degradation of the room temperature tensile strength in the Y₃Al₅O₁₂/Al₂O₃ eutectic fiber after heat treatment was attributed to the development of surface grooves at the surface of the fiber. Also, the Y₃Al₅O₁₂/Al₂O₃ eutectic fiber showed a radial (Palmqvist) crack type and exhibited an anisotropic crack propagation behavior during the indentation tests.     

Microstructure evolution and crystallography of directionally solidified Al2O3/Y3Al5O12 eutectic ceramics prepared by the modified Bridgman method

Large size, high-density (99.97%) and well-organized Al₂O₃/Y₃Al₅O₁₂ (YAG) eutectic ceramics were prepared by the modified Bridgman method. The evolution of the three dimensional microstructure and micropores were investigated. The diameter of the micro-pores and the porosity decreased during directional solidification. The average equivalent diameter of the micro-pores was 2.41 μm in the well-prepared eutectic ceramics. Most of the pores (98.07%) were smaller than 4 μm. These data are comparable to those prepared by the optical floating zone method. The as-grown eutectic ceramics were polycrystalline, but the interfaces were well-bonded and there were no amorphous phases in the microstructure. The misfits of the different crystallographic relationships were calculated, and the bottleneck of the single-crystal preparation was identified. These results could provide theoretical guidance for the preparation of large, single-crystal Al₂O₃/YAG eutectic ceramics by the modified Bridgman method.     

激光区熔定向凝固Al2O3/Y3Al5O12 (YAG)共晶的组织与断裂韧性

采用激光区熔高温度梯度快速定向凝固技术从熔体中直接制备Al2O3/Y3Al5O12(YAG)共晶自生复合陶瓷,以研究其在超高温度梯度(1.0×106 K/m)下的快速凝固组织特征及与激光工艺参数的关系,并对其力学性质进行分析.研究结果表明:凝固组织强烈地受激光扫描速度与功率密度的影响,当二者匹配时,Al2O3相和Y3Al5O12(YAG)相呈现均匀一致,连续分布的层状耦合共晶结构,共晶间距细小(1～2 μm),且随扫描速度的增大逐渐减小;所制备的Al2O3/Y3Al5O12(YAG)共晶陶瓷硬度高达19.5 GPa,断裂韧性达到3.6 MPa·m1/2.     

Microstructure and mechanical properties of glass-infiltrated Al2O3/ZrO2 nanocomposites

This work was to investigate the effect of zirconia nanoparticles content on microstructure and mechanical properties of glass-infiltrated alumina/zirconia composites (AZGs). A series of slip-cast zirconia-toughened alumina (ZTA) compacts containing 10, 20, 30 wt% nano-zirconia, respectively, were partially sintered at 1,250°C for 2 h, then infiltrated with lanthanum borosilicate glass of lower thermal expansion at 1,180°C for 4 h. A porosity ranging from 21 to 25% mainly with submicron pore size was demonstrated in the partially-sintered ZTAs. Homogeneous distribution and micro-crystallization of intergranular glass phase was showed in the AZGs. The mechanical strength and fracture toughness of AZGs increased with zirconia content, the maximum (633.5 ± 41.7, 6.7 ± 0.6 MPa m^0.5) were obtained in 30 wt% zirconia group, which were significantly higher than those in 10 wt% zirconia group (P < 0.05). The improved mechanical performance of AZGs containing 30 wt% zirconia was attributed to their larger zirconia content as well as thinner intergranular glass film.     

Temperature dependence of flexural strength and microstructure of Al2O3/Y3Al5O12/ZrO2 ternary melt growth composites

New Al₂O₃/Y₃Al₅O₁₂(YAG)/ZrO₂ ternary Melt Growth Composites (MGCs) with a novel microstructure have been fabricated by unidirectional solidification. These MGCs displayed superior high-temperature strength characteristics. The flexural strength increases progressively in the range 650–800 MPa with a rise in temperature from room temperature up to 1873 K. These excellent high-temperature characteristics are closely linked to such factors as: a microstructure consisting of three-dimensionally continuous and complexly entangled single-crystal Al₂O₃ with a hexagonal structure, single-crystal YAG with a garnet structure and fine ZrO₂ with a cubic structure; characteristic dimensions of the microstructure of Al₂O₃/YAG/ZrO₂ ternary eutectic ceramics of around 2–3 m for YAG, around 2–3 m for Al₂O₃ and around 0.4–0.8 m for ZrO₂; and the fact that no amorphous phase is formed at interfaces between any of the phases.     

Eutectic solidification in the system Al2O3/Y3Al5O12

The eutectic solidification in the system Al₂O₃/Y₂Al₅O₁₂ has been investigated. A Bridgman-type crystal-growing furnace was used in this investigation. A temperature gradient of 190° C/cm and growth rates which were varied between 2 and 12 cm/h were employed in the directional solidification studies. Three types of microstructure were observed depending upon the composition and the growth rate. At a growth rate of 4 cm/h and at compositions removed from the eutectic composition, a mixture of primary phase and fine eutectic dispersion was found. At growth rates between 2 and 12 cm/h at the eutectic composition, a colony type microstructure was most commonly observed. At growth rates above 4 cm/h at the eutectic composition, regions in the solidified ingot were found to have a highly oriented eutectic microstructure consisting of both rods and platelets. These eutectic microstructures indicate that coupled growth can occur in this system. The method of Sunquist and Mondolfo [15] was used to determine whether Y₃Al₅O₁₂ was the first phase to nucleate at the eutectic.     

ZrO2/Al2O3多孔陶瓷的制备与力学性能

采用凝胶-发泡法制备了ZrO2/Al2O3多孔陶瓷,研究了陶瓷浆料的流变性,固相含量对多孔陶瓷坯体显微结构与力学性能的影响,以及烧结助剂MgO含量与多孔陶瓷抗压强度及气孔率之间的关系.结果表明,在分散剂含量为0.4％(质量分数),球磨4 h,pH值为4的条件下,陶瓷浆料的黏度较低,有利于凝胶注模.固相含量增加,坯体气孔率下降.过高的固相含量使浆料流动困难,注模时引入空气导致坯体内形成较大的气孔甚至裂纹,使坯体抗压强度下降.由ZrO2引起的相变增韧及微裂纹增韧可有效改善多孔陶瓷的力学性能.随烧结助剂含量增加,多孔陶瓷气孔支撑体致密化程度增大,气孔率降低,抗压强度明显升高.多孔陶瓷的抗压强度最高达30 MPa.引入适量的ZrO2及烧结助剂,可制备气孔率适中、抗压强度高的多孔陶瓷.     

Microstructure and mechanical properties of Y2O3/SiC nanocomposites

 Y₂O₃-based nanocomposites were fabriacted by hot-press and the microstructures and mechanical properties were investigated. Transmission-electron-microscope observations revealed that the SiC particles were distributed both within Y₂O₃ matrix grains and at the grain boundaries. Significant mechanical properties improvements were identified particularly at high temperatures above 1000 oC both in air and inert atmospheres. Received: 2 January 1997 / Accepted: 27 March 1997     

Preparation and mechanical properties of high-purity Al2O3 fibre/Al2O3 matrix composite

Al₂O₃ matrix composites with unidirectionally oriented high-purity Al₂O₃ fibre with and without carbon coating, were fabricated by the filament-winding method, followed by hot-pressing at 1573–1773 K. The composite with non-coated Al₂O₃ fibre exhibited a bending strength (594 MPa) comparable to that of monolithic Al₂O₃ (589 MPa). While the composite with a carbon-coated fibre had lower strength (477 MPa), it showed improved fracture toughness (6.5 MPa m^1/2) compared to the composite with an uncoated fibre (4.5 MPa m^1/2) and monolithic Al₂O₃ (5.5 MPa m^1/2). This toughness enhancement was explained based on the increased crack extension resistance caused by the fibre pull-out observed by SEM at the notch tip. This revised version was published online in November 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Microstructure and mechanical properties of ZrO2-Gd2O3 tetragonal polycrystals

The phases, transformability, microstructure and mechanical properties of ZrO₂-Gd₂O₃ polycrystals containing 1.75–8 mol% Gd₂O₃ were studied. The samples were prepared by a coprecipitation route followed by sintering at 1400°C for 2 hours. The grain size was in the range of 0.1–0.2 m except for some large grains at high Gd₂O₃ contents. Only a tetragonal phase was observed between 2–4 mol% Gd₂O₃ and a cubic phase for compositions containing 9.6 mol% Gd₂O₃. A peak K _IC of 12 MPa m^1/2 and a strength of 800 MPa were obtained in the 2 mol% Gd₂O₃ alloy for which the t m transformation on the fracture surface was also found to be maximum. Transformation toughening is able to account for most of the toughness of the samples.     

Microstructure and mechanical properties of a Si3N4/Al2O3 nanocomposite

A nanocomposite material fabricated by hot pressing in the form of nanometre-sized Si3N4 particles dispersed in an Al2O3 matrix has been shown to exhibit enhanced mechanical properties compared with monolithic matrix material. It was observed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) for the first time that the alumina grains were in the shape of elongated columns with aspect ratios in the range 2.5–4. The presence of liquid phase during sintering was found to be responsible for the appearance of columnar grains. Regular hexagon-shaped larger -Sialon grains formed during sintering were mainly situated at grain boundaries of the matrix material while irregular smaller dispersoids were trapped within the alumina grains. The improvement in the mechanical properties of the nanocomposite is attributed to the change in fracture mode from intergranular fracture to transgranular fracture, the self-reinforcement effect arising from the elongated columnar grains of the matrix, as well as the pinning effect due to the existence of intergranular -sialon particles. It was revealed that the trapped particles have an -Al2O3 structure with partial sites of aluminium and oxygen atoms substituted by silicon and nitrogen atoms, which is also likely to lead to the strengthening of the composite.     

晶粒细化对Al2O3／ZrB2／ZrO2复合陶瓷材料力学性能的影响

采用普通球磨细化工艺和两次球磨细化工艺制备出两类Al2O3/ZrB2/ZrO2复合陶瓷材料,并对材料的硬度、断裂韧性和抗弯强度进行了测试和分析.结果表明,两次球磨细化工艺可以明显降低ZrB2/ZrO2晶粒的尺寸至0.2～0.4μm,使其在Al2O3基体内的分布更均匀,并能有抑制Al2O3晶粒的异常长大.与普通细化工艺相比较,此工艺改变了材料的断裂模式,强化了晶界的结合能力,使复合材料的综合力学性能得到了更大程度的改善,其中抗弯强度和硬度最多提高了48%和41%.     

Dislocations in Y3Al5O12

The energies of dislocations in yttrium aluminium garnet are calculated and the likely configurations of both growth and mechanically induced dislocations in crystals grown from solution and from the melt are discussed.     

Microstructure and mechanical properties of Al2O3-Cr2O3-ZrO2 composites

Al₂O₃ is a popular ceramic and has been used widely in many applications and studied in many aspects. On the other hand, zirconia-toughened alumina (ZTA) is a desirable material for engineering ceramics because of its high hardness, high wear resistance and high toughness. In the present research, Al₂O₃-Cr₂O₃-ZrO₂ composites were produced by hot-pressing in order to harden the Al₂O₃ matrix in ZTA. Its microstructure and mechanical properties were studied by SEM, ESCA, XRD, Vickers hardness and bending strength test. It was found that addition of ZrO₂ inhibited the grain growth of Al₂O₃-Cr₂O₃ and the grain growth of ZrO₂ proceeded with increasing amounts of ZrO₂ in the Al₂O₃-Cr₂O₃-Zr₂ composite. The formation of solid solution Al₂O₃-Cr₂O₃ was also confirmed by XRD, and monoclinic ZrO₂ increased on addition of Cr₂O₃. Maximum hardness was at Al₂O₃-10wt% Cr₂O₃ with 10 vol% ZrO₂ and a stress-induced transformation was confirmed on the fracture surface of the specimen after the bending test.