Effects of α-Sic versus β-Sic Starting Powders on Microstructure and Fracture Toughness of Sic Sintered with Al2O3-Y2O3 Additives |
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Authors: | Seung Kun Lee Chong Hee Kim |
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Affiliation: | Department of Ceramic Science and Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Taejon 305–701, Republic of Korea |
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Abstract: | Dense Sic ceramics were obtained by pressureless sintering of β-Sic and α-Sic powders as starting materials using Al2O3-Y2O3 additives. The resulting microstructure depended highly on the polytypes of the starting SiC powders. The microstructure of SiC obtained from α-SiC powder was composed of equiaxed grains, whereas SiC obtained from α-SiC powder was composed of a platelike grain structure resulting from the grain growth associated with the β→α phase transformation of SiC during sintering. The fracture toughness for the sintered SiC using α-SiC powder increased slightly from 4.4 to 5.7 MPa.m1/2 with holding time, that is, increased grain size. In the case of the sintered SiC using β-SiC powder, fracture toughness increased significantly from 4.5 to 8.3 MPa.m1/2 with holding time. This improved fracture toughness was attributed to crack bridging and crack deflection by the platelike grains. |
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