Processing and Microstructure of Mullite-Zirconia Composites Prepared from Sol-Gel Powders

A high-purity stoichiometric mullite precursor was obtained by hydrolysis of the alkoxides Al(OC₃H₇)₃ and Si(OC₂H₂)₄. Fully sintered mullite ceramics can be prepared from sol-gel powders by sintering them at 1600°C for 4 h in air with the addition of 15 to 20 Vol% ZrO₂ or 1 to 3 mol% Y₂O₃ or both. Introduction of 1 to 3 mol% Y₂O₃ aids the retention of tetragonal ZrO₂; the volume fraction of t -ZrO₂ retained increases with increasing Y₂O₃ content. The maximum t -ZrO₂ retained reaches 34% in a matrix of synthetic mullite with 3 mol% Y₂O₃, but most of this t -ZrO₂ does not undergo stress-induced transformation during grinding.