Development of novel microstructures in zirconia-toughened alumina using rapid solidification and shock compaction
- Department of Applied Mechanics and Engineering Sciences and Materials Science Program, University of California at San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093-0411 (United States)
- Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, University of California, Institute of Geophysics and Planetary Physics and H Division, Livermore, California 94550 (United States)
- Los Alamos National Laboratory, Materials Science and Technology Division, MST-4, Los Alamos, New Mexico 87545 (United States)
A rapidly solidified alumina-zirconia eutectic material containing nanocrystalline t-ZrO{sub 2} has been synthesized. When heated, the microstructure contained a mixture of t-ZrO{sub 2} and m-ZrO{sub 2}, each of which can facilitate toughening of the composite. Dynamic shock compaction was used to accelerate densification of the material, producing crack-free specimens with high green densities. After sintering to densities measuring {approximately}95{percent} of theoretical, the shock-compacted specimens fabricated with unstabilized alumina-zirconia were extensively microcracked due to an overabundance of the m-ZrO{sub 2} phase. Experiments employing Y{sub 2}O{sub 3} as a chemical stabilizer have shown that the extent of the phase transformation can be controlled, and the microstructure which developed in the stabilized material contained an acceptable level of the microcrack generating m-ZrO{sub 2} phase. {copyright} {ital 1996 Materials Research Society.}
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE
- OSTI ID:
- 278468
- Journal Information:
- Journal of Materials Research, Journal Name: Journal of Materials Research Journal Issue: 1 Vol. 11; ISSN JMREEE; ISSN 0884-2914
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Effect of calcination on the sintering of gel-derived zirconia-toughened alumina
Particle interactions in zirconia-toughened alumina