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

Conference · Tue Jan 01 04:00:00 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
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

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