SINTERING AND COATING OF CERAMICS USING CARBON DIOXIDE LASER

Laser sintering and ceramic coating techniques for synthesis of new ceramics have been investigated. The laser sintering method is useful instead of furnace treatment for the densification of materials having high melting points. The new ceramics, ZrO₂-V₂O_-HfO₂ which have a melting point of 2850^°C and a hardness of about 1850?kgf/cm have been sintered. The single crystal of AI₂O₃3WO₃ was found to form under nonequilibrium states in the Al₂O₃-WO₃ system. A ceramic coating that forms a solid electrolyte layer of a fuel cell was also developed. The laser beam was parallel to the substrate surface on which melted ceramics were deposited by a powder gun. The properties of the coated layer are discussed with the melted particles passing through the laser beam