Microstructure and properties of alumina-whisker-reinforced tetragonal zirconia polycrystal matrix composites

Conference · Tue Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1991

OSTI ID:6280421

Roberts, J M; Singh, J P ^[1]; Scattergood, R O ^[2]

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1. Argonne National Lab., IL (USA)
2. North Carolina State Univ., Raleigh, NC (USA). Dept. of Materials Science and Engineering

With the increasing demand of today's technology, there is a growing need for high temperature materials with improved fracture toughness. Whisker-reinforced ceramic composites are materials with potentially high fracture toughness. Many whisker-matrix systems are possible, but the choices for toughened composites are limited by such considerations as chemical compatibility and thermal expansion mismatch. In view of the high fracture toughness of tetragonal zirconia polycrystals (TZP) matrix, many investigators have successfully attempted to improve the mechanical properties of yttria stabilized tetragonal zirconia polycrystals (Y-TZP) with the addition of strong, single crystal SiC whiskers. The primary objective of this work was to place Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} whiskers into an Y-TZP matrix and study the toughening effects on the new composite. This particular system was chosen because of the high strength and reasonably high toughness inherent within Y-TZP and potentially high strength obtainable within a single crystal alumina. This, combined with an agreeable thermal expansion mismatch, could theoretically produce a composite of exceptionally high toughness. 14 refs., 7 figs.

• Research Organization: Argonne National Lab., IL (USA)
• Sponsoring Organization: DOE/ER
• DOE Contract Number: W-31109-ENG-38
• OSTI ID: 6280421
• Report Number(s): CONF-910162-1; ON: DE91006036
• Resource Relation: Conference: 15. annual conference on composites and advanced ceramics, Cocoa Beach, FL (USA), 13-16 Jan 1991; Other Information: Thesis (M.S.). Thesis. Submitted by J.M. Roberts to North Carolina State University
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
ALUMINIUM OXIDES
FRACTURE PROPERTIES
COMPOSITE MATERIALS
ZIRCONIUM OXIDES
CRACK PROPAGATION
GRAIN SIZE
HOT PRESSING
MICROSTRUCTURE
REINFORCED MATERIALS
WHISKERS
ALUMINIUM COMPOUNDS
CHALCOGENIDES
CRYSTAL STRUCTURE
CRYSTALS
FABRICATION
MATERIALS
MATERIALS WORKING
MECHANICAL PROPERTIES
MONOCRYSTALS
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PRESSING
SIZE
TRANSITION ELEMENT COMPOUNDS
ZIRCONIUM COMPOUNDS
360603* - Materials- Properties
360602 - Other Materials- Structure & Phase Studies