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Fracture strength-fracture resistance response and damage resistance of sintered Al[sub 2]O[sub 3]-ZrO[sub 2] (12 mol% CeO[sub 2]) composites

Journal Article · · Journal of the American Ceramic Society; (United States)
;  [1]
  1. Oak Ridge National Lab., TN (United States). Metals and Ceramics Division

The fracture strengths of sintered Al[sub 2]O[sub 3] containing 20 and 40 vol% ZrO[sub 2](12 mol% CeO[sub 2])--zirconia-toughened alumina (ZTA)--composites along with the fracture resistance can be increased (e.g., to [approximately]900 MPa and >12 MPa[center dot]m[sup 1/2], respectively), by increasing the mean grain size of the t-ZrO[sub 2] (and the Al[sub 2]O[sub 3]) from [approximately]0.5 [mu]m to [approximately]3 [mu]m. At these lower t-ZrO[sub 2] contents, the fracture strength-fracture resistance curves show a continuous rise as opposed to the strength maxima observed in polycrystalline t-ZrO[sub 2] (12 mol% CeO[sub 2]), CeTZP, and ZrO[sub 2] (12 mol% CeO[sub 2]) ceramics containing [<=] 20 vol% Al[sub 2]O[sub 3]. The toughened composites also exhibit excellent damage resistance with fracture strengths of 500 MPa retained with surfaces containing [approximately]150-N Vickers indentations which produce cracks off [approximately]160-[mu]m radius. Greater damage resistance correlates with an increase in the apparent R-curve response of these composites.

DOE Contract Number:
AC05-84OR21400
OSTI ID:
6765240
Journal Information:
Journal of the American Ceramic Society; (United States), Journal Name: Journal of the American Ceramic Society; (United States) Vol. 77:10; ISSN 0002-7820; ISSN JACTAW
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English