Preparation of a Highly Conductive Al2O3/TiN Interlayer Nanocomposite through Selective Matrix Grain Growth |
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Authors: | Xihai Jin Lian Gao |
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Affiliation: | Shanghai Institute of Ceramics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200050, China |
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Abstract: | An electroconductive TiN/Al2O3 nanocomposite was prepared by a selective matrix grain growth method, using a powder mixture of submicrosized α-Al2O3, nanosized γ-Al2O3, and TiN nanoparticles synthesized through an in situ nitridation process. During sintering, a self-concentration of TiN nanoparticles at the matrix grain boundary occurred, as a result of the selective growth of large α-Al2O3 matrix grains. Under suitable sintering conditions, a typical interlayer nanostructure with a continuous nanosized TiN interlayer was formed along the Al2O3 matrix grain boundary, and the electroconducting behavior of the material was significantly improved. Twelve volume percent TiN/Al2O3 nanocomposite with such an interlayer nanostructure showed an unprecedentedly low resistivity of 8 × 10?3Ω·cm, which was more than two orders lower than the TiN/Al2O3 nanocomposite without such an interlayer nanostructure. |
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