Microstructural characterization of ZrO{sub 2}/O{prime}-SiAlON composites

Journal Article · Wed May 01 04:00:00 EDT 1996 · Journal of the American Ceramic Society

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1151-2916.1996.tb08590.x· OSTI ID:253570

Cheng, Y B ^[1]; Drennan, J ^[2]

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1. Monash Univ., Melbourne (Australia). Dept. of Materials Engineering
2. CSIRO, Melbourne (Australia). Div. of Materials Science and Technology

Zirconia has demonstrated a very moderate toughening effect in nitrogen-based ceramic composites because the reaction between tetragonal zirconia (t-ZrO{sub 2}) and nitrogen results in additional zirconia stabilization to a nontransformable t{prime} or cubic structure. In O{prime}-SiAlON matrices, the oxygen concentration increases and the oxygen-rich intergranular glassy phase prevents zirconia from nitridation. As a result, tetragonal ZrO{sub 2} is maintained and is transformable in the O{prime}-SiAlON materials. The present study has provided transmission electron microscopy (TEM) evidence of the zirconia transformation and the associated toughening effect in a ZrO{sub 2}/O{prime}-SiAlON composite. The implications and limitations of the transformation on toughening of the material are discussed.

• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• OSTI ID: 253570
• Journal Information: Journal of the American Ceramic Society, Journal Name: Journal of the American Ceramic Society Journal Issue: 5 Vol. 79; ISSN 0002-7820; ISSN JACTAW
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
ALUMINIUM OXIDES
CHEMICAL COMPOSITION
COMPOSITE MATERIALS
CRYSTAL-PHASE TRANSFORMATIONS
MICROSTRUCTURE
MONOCLINIC LATTICES
OXYGEN
SILICON NITRIDES
TETRAGONAL LATTICES
TRANSMISSION ELECTRON MICROSCOPY
X-RAY DIFFRACTION
ZIRCONIUM OXIDES