| Abstract: | The effect of ZrO2 content on the fracture toughness, flexural strength and Vickers hardness as well as the erosive wear resistant properties of zirconia toughened Al2O3-TiC ceramic composites has been investigated. The results showed that the improvement in fracture toughness and flexure strength of composites with the content of zirconia less than 50% and 10% in mass fraction respectively, is primarily attributed to stress-induced transformation toughening by the analyse of X-ray diffraction. The dependance of erosion wear resistance on the attack angle and the content of ZrO2 particles of the composites was also revealed. It is found that the erosion rate of the composites has a sharp rise at a attack angle over 65?. This phenomenon is due to a brittle response to the erosion test by microstructural observation on eroded surface. |
