Effect of Nano-ZrO_2 on Microstructure and Thermal Shock Behaviour of Al_2O_3/SiC Composite Ceramics Used in Solar Thermal Power

The Al2O3-ZrO2（3Y）-SiC composite ceramics used in solar thermal power were prepared by micrometric Al2O3,nano-ZrO2 and SiC powders under the condition of pressureless sintering.The bulk density and bending strength of samples with 10vol% nano-ZrO2 sintered at 1480℃ were 3.222 g/cm3 and 160.4MPa,respectively.The bending strength of samples after 7 times thermal shock tests （quenching from 1000℃ to 25℃ in air medium） is 132.0MPa,loss rate of bending strength is only 17%.The effect of nano-ZrO2 content on the microstructure and performance of Al2O3-ZrO2（3Y）-SiC composite ceramic was investigated.The experimental results show that the bending strength of samples with above 10vol% nano-ZrO2 content has decreased,because the volume expansion resulting from t-ZrO2 to m-ZrO2 phase transformation is excessive;Adding proper nano-ZrO2 would be contributed to improve the thermal shock resistance of the composite ceramics.The Al2O3-ZrO2（3Y）-SiC composite ceramic has promising potential application in solar thermal power.

Preparation of Al_2O_3-SiO_2-TiO_2-ZrO_2 Composite Ceramic Membranes by Sol-Gel Method

Al 2O 3-SiO 2-TiO 2-ZrO 2 supported membranes were prepar ed by Sol-Gel method. These composite ceramic membranes are level, even and no macro crack. There exist several crystalline phases such as Al 2O 3, TiO 2(a natase), Al 2SiO 5, and ZrO 2 in these membranes. Changing the molar ratio of Al∶Si∶Ti∶Zr,the kinds and content of crystal phases of composite membranes could be different, which may lead to a variety of microstructure of membranes. The surface nanoscale topography and microstructure of membranes were investiga ted by XRD,SEM,AFM,EPMA. The effects of additives and heat treatments on the sur face nanoscale topography and microstructure of composite ceramic membranes were also analyzed.

Preparation of Crack-free 3Y-TZP/Al_2O_3 Composite Ceramic Fiber by Electrolysis-sol-gel Method

Polycrystalline 3Y-TZP/Al2O3 tetragonal zirconia fiber was obtained by the pyrolysis of gel fibers using zirconium oxychloride octahydrate（ZOC） as the raw material. The spinnable zirconia sol was prepared by electrolyzing the zirco-nium oxychloride octahydrate（ZOC） solution in the presence of acetic acid and sugar（ sucrose, glucrose or fructose） , in which the molar ratios of CH3 COOH/ZOC and sugar/ZOC were 1.0-4.0 and 0.2-0.4, respectively. The pre- pared tetragonal zireonia fibers sintered at different temperatures showed smooth and crack-free surfaces with diame, ters of 5-10 μm. The addition of Al2O3 enhanced the sintering process and prevented the crystals from growing. Thermogravimetric analysis（TG）, X-ray diffraction （ XRD ）, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy（FTIR）, and scanning electron microscope（SEM） techniques were used to characterize the prepared fibers.

Thermal shock fatigue behavior of TiC/Al_2O_3 composite ceramics

The thermal shock fatigue behaviors of pure hot-pressed alumina and 30 wt.% TiC/Al2O3 composites were studied. The effect of TiC and Al2O3 starting particle size on the mechanical properties of the composites was discussed. Indentation-quench test was conducted to evaluate the effect of thermal fatigue temperature difference （ΔT） and number of thermal cycles （Ⅳ） on fatigue crack growth （Δa）. The mechanical properties and thermal fatigue resistance of TiC/Al203 composites are remarkably improved by the addition of TiC. The thermal shock fatigue of monolithic alumina and TiC/Al2O3 composites is due to a ＂true＂ cycling effect （thermal fatigue）. Crack deflection and bridging are the predominant reasons for the improvement of thermal shock fatigue resistance of the composites.

Synergistically Toughening Effect of SiC Whiskers and Nanoparticles in Al_2O_3-based Composite Ceramic Cutting Tool Material

In recent decades, many additives with different characteristics have been applied to strengthen and toughen Al2O3-based ceramic cutting tool materials. Among them, SiC whiskers and SiC nanoparticles showed excellent performance in improving the material properties. While no attempts have been made to add SiC whiskers and SiC nanoparticles together into the ceramic matrix and the synergistically toughening effects of them have not been studied. An Al2O3-SiCw-SiC np advanced ceramic cutting tool material is fabricated by adding both one-dimensional SiC whiskers and zero-dimensional SiC nanoparticles into the Al2O3 matrix with an effective dispersing and mixing process. The composites with 25 vol% SiC whiskers and 25 vol% SiC nanoparticles alone are also investegated for comparison purposes. Results show that the Al2O3-SiCw-SiCnp composite with both 20 vo1% SiC whiskers and 5 vol% SiC nanoparticles additives have much improved mechanical properties. The flexural strength of Al2O3-SiCw-SiCnp is 730＋ 95 MPa and fracture toughness is 5.6 ± 0.6 MPa.m1/2. The toughening and strengthening mechanisms of SiC whiskers and nanoparticles are studied when they are added either individually or in combination. It is indicated that when SiC whiskers and nanoparticles are added together, the grains are further refined and homogenized, so that the microstructure and fracture mode ratio is modified. The SiC nanoparticles are found helpful to enhance the toughening effects of the SiC whiskers. The proposed research helps to enrich the types of ceramic cutting tool and is benefit to expand the application range of ceramic cutting tool.

JOINING MECHANISMS OF β"-Al_2O_3 CERAMIC AND PYREX GLASS TO Al MATRIX COMPOSITE

The bonding of β″-Al2O3 and pyrex glass to A1 matrix composites by anodic bonding process is achieved. The microstructure of the bonded interface and the joining mechanisms are analyzed with scanning electron microscope （SEM）, energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectrometer （EDX）. It is observed that the bonding region across the interface consists of the metal layer, oxide transitional layer and the ceramic layer, with the transitional layer composed of surface region and sub-surface region. The bonding process can mainly be categorized into anodic bonding process and solid state diffusing process. The pile-up of the ions and its drift in the interface area are the main reasons for anode oxidation and joining of the interface. The temperature, voltage and the drift ions in the ceramic or glass during the bonding process are the essential conditions to solid state diffusing and oxide bonding at the interface. The voltages, temperature, pressure as well as the surface state are the main factors that influence the anodic bonding.

Effect of Interfacial Bonding on the Toughening of Al_2O_3/Ni Ceramic Matrix Composites

The main Iimitation to the toughening of the α-Al2O3/Ni composite is the poor bonding atthe interface. which causes the nickel particles to be pulled-out during crack propagation with-out obvious plastic deformation. A proper control of oxygen content at the Al2O3-Ni interfacecan promote wetting at the intedece, and produce a mechanically interlocked and chemically strengthened intedece, causing most of the nickel particles to be stretched to failure and to expe-rience severe plastic deformation during crack propagation in the composite. Fracture toughnesstesting using a modified double cantilever beam method with in situ observation of crack prop-agation in a scanning electron microscope shows that the composite with the strengthenedinterface has a more desirable R-curve behaviour and a higher fracture toughness value than thenormal composite.

Preparation of Fe-M Intermetallic/TiC-M_2O_3 Ceramic Composites from Ilmenite by SHS

Fe-Al intermetallic/TiC-Al2O3 ceramic composites were successfully prepared by selfpropagating high-temperature synthesis （SHS） from natural ilmenite, aluminium and carbon as the raw materials. The effects of carbon sources, preheating time and heat treatment temperature on synthesis process and products were investigated in detail, and the reaction process of the FeTiO3-Al-C system was also discussed. It is shown that the temperature and velocity of the combustion wave are higher when graphite is used as the carbon source, which can reflect the effect of the carbon source structure on the combustion synthesis; Prolonging the preheating time or heat treatment temperature is beneficial to the formation of the ordered intermetallics; The temperature and velocity of the combustion wave are improved, but the disordered alloys are difficult to eliminate with the preheating time prolonged. The compound powders mainly containing ordered Fe3Al intermetallic can be prepared through heat treatment at 750 ℃.

Identification of Growth Promoter to Fabrication SiCp/Al₂O₃Ceramic Matrix Composites Prepared by Directed Metal Oxidation of An Al Alloy

SiC particulates reinforced alumina matrix composites were fabricated using Directed Metal Oxidation (DIMOX) process. Continuous oxidation of an Al-Si-Mg-Zn alloy with different interlayers (dopents) as growth promoters, will encompasses the early heating of the alloy ingot, melting and continued heating to temperature in the narrow range of 950°C to 980°C in an atmosphere of oxygen. Varying interlayers (dopents) are incorporated to examine the growth conditions of the composite materials and to identification of suitable growth promoter. The process is extremely difficult because molten aluminum does not oxidize after prolonged duration at high temperatures due to the formation of a passivating oxide layer. It is known that the Lanxide Corporation had used a combination of dopents to cause the growth of alumina from molten metal. This growth was directed, i.e. the growth is allowed only in the required direction and restricted in the other directions. The react nature of the dopants was a trade secret. Though it is roughly known that Mg and Si in the Al melt can aid growth, additional dopents used, the temperatures at which the process was carried out, the experimental configurations that aided directed growth were not precisely known. In this paper we have evaluated the conditions in which composites can be grown in large enough sizes for evaluation application and have arrived at a procedure that enables the fabrication of large composite samples by determining the suitable growth promoter (dopant). Scanning electron microscopic, EDS analysis of the composite was found to contain a continuous network of Al2O3, which was predominantly free of grain-boundary phases, a continuous network of Al alloy. Fabrication of large enough samples was done only by the inventor company and the property measurements by the company were confirmed to those needed to enable immediate applications. Since there are a large number of variable affecting robust growth of the composite, fabrication large sized samples for measurements is a difficult task. In the present work, to identify a suitable window of parameters that enables robust growth of the composite has been attempted.

A novel technique for making open-cell Al_2O_3-ZrO_2 ceramic foam with plant seed template

The aim of the present research is to provide a technique for preparing open-cell Al2O3-ZrO2 ceramic foams with uniform cell size.This technique used plant seeds to array templates and centrifugal slip casting to obtain cell struts with high packing density.Aqueous Al2O3-ZrO2 slurries with up to 50 vol.% solid contents were prepared and the rheological characteristic of the slurries was investigated.Consolidation was performed at an acceleration of 2,860 g for 60 min.The effect of the characteristic of plant seeds on the drying behavior of Al2O3-ZrO2 green compact was analyzed.The effects of the solid contents of slurries on segregation phenomena of Al2O3 and ZrO2 particles and green compact uniformity were investigated.The compressive stress-strain curve and deformation behavior of Al2O3-ZrO2 ceramic foams prepared using plant seed template were analyzed.The results showed segregation phenomenon is negligible for highly stable slurry with 50 vol.% solid loading.The prepared cell struts of Al2O3-ZrO2 foams have high green density (61.9% TD), sintered density (99.1% TD) and homogeneous microstructure.When sintered at 1,550 ℃ for 2 h, the cell size of Al2O3-ZrO2 foam is approximately uniform and the diameter is about 1.1 mm.The porosity and compressive strength of sintered products is 66.2% and 5.86 MPa, respectively.

Predicting model on ultimate compressive strength of Al_2O_3-ZrO_2 ceramic foam filter based on BP neural network

In present study, BP neural network model was proposed for the prediction of ultimate compressive strength of Al2O3-ZrO2 ceramic foam filter prepared by centrifugal slip casting. The inputs of the BP neural network model were the applied load on the epispastic polystyrene template (F), centrifugal acceleration (v) and sintering temperature (T), while the only output was the ultimate compressive strength (σ). According to the registered BP model, the effects of F, v, T on σ were analyzed. The predicted results agree with the actual data within reasonable experimental error, indicating that the BP model is practically a very useful tool in property prediction and process parameter design of the Al2O3-ZrO2 ceramic foam filter prepared by centrifugal slip casting.

Functionally graded Al_2O_3-ZrO_2 composite prepared by centrifugal slip casting and its mechanical properties

Compositionally graded composite of alumina-20%zirconia (volume fraction) was fabricated by using centrifugal casting incorporated with relatively thin slip. An EPMA analysis exhibited a nearly linear variation of the alumina/zirconia ratio along the centrifugal direction; zirconia tended to accumulate in the bottom section, while alumina in the top section. Such a graded structure exhibited a considerably higher flexural strength when the alumina rich surface was subjected to a tensile stress than compositionally uniform composite of the same average composition. Fracture toughness measurement across the specimen thickness by indentation method revealed that the crack lengths along the vertical and horizontal directions were different. The anisotropy of the fracture toughness was accounted for by the variation of the residual stress across the specimen thickness.

纳米/微米Al_2O_3-ZrO_2内衬复相陶瓷的自蔓延高温合成

采用SHS重力分离技术制备出内衬Al2 O3 ZrO2 复相陶瓷。复相陶瓷基体主要由纤维状 (Al2 O3 +ZrO2 )共晶体组成 ,其中共晶体的ZrO2 纤维直径达到纳米 /微米尺度。经Vickers压痕法测试其断裂韧度为1 5 96MPa·m1 / 2 ,SEM观察和陶瓷材料断裂韧度测试得出裂纹的扩展主要受共晶体中Al2 O3 ZrO2 纳米 /微米相增韧机制控制 ,迫使裂纹沿共晶体边界或层片共晶体Al2 O3 ZrO2 相界偏转 。

微波烧结和常压烧结对Al_2O_3-ZrO_2陶瓷磨损行为的影响

采用多模微波烧结系统和常压烧结,对Ａｌ２Ｏ３－ＺｒＯ２复合材料的基本性能进行了研究,提出了相关的磨损机理．与常压烧结相比,微波烧结可以提高ＺＴＡ陶瓷的密度、强度和韧性,使其结构均匀,耐磨性提高．常压烧结样品的磨损主要是晶粒铲平、磨屑填充体内气孔形成光滑的磨损界面;而微波烧结ＺＴＡ陶瓷主要是界面晶粒剥离脱落磨损．载荷的增加使磨损量增大．

Al_2O_3-ZrO_2复合膜的制备与表征

以异丙醇铝和氧氯化锆为原料,用溶胶-凝胶法在Al2O3中空纤维上制备了Al2O3-ZrO2复合膜。应用TG、DTA、XRD、SEM等测试手段对复合膜的热稳定性、结构、形貌进行了表征。结果表明复合膜的热稳定性比单一由氧化铝或氧化锆制成的膜有显著的提高,在1100℃之前,复合膜以t-ZrO2存在,1200℃时,出现了m-ZrO2和α-Al2O3相。扫描电镜分析表明,膜表面完整、无缺陷。气体渗透实验进一步表明所得膜具有一定的气体选择性,0.3MPa和0.5MPa下对氮气和氩气的分离因子α分别为1.191和1.185,和氮气与氩气的理论分离因子(α=1.194)相当,说明气体通过膜的扩散以Knudsen扩散传质为主。用等温氮气吸附实验测定了非担载膜的孔径大小和分布,最可几孔径约为4.3nm。

IN SITU PROCESSING OF Al_(2)O_(3) WHISKERS REINFORCED Ti-Al INTERMETALLIC COMPOSITES

In situ Al2O3 whiskers reinforced Ti-Al intermetallic composites were fabricated at ~1200℃ by reaction sintering of cold-consolidated fillets consisting mainly of Ti, Al, and different additives. The phases and microstructures of the sintered composites were characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) coupled with energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS). The process of synthesis was investigated using differential thermal analysis (DTA). The effects of processing parameters and additives on the microstructures of the composites and the development of whisker were examined. It is found that the morphology of the whisker is strongly influenced by the additives, the exothermal reaction process, and the processing parameters.

溶胶-凝胶法制备Al_2O_3-ZrO_2-SiO_2复合薄膜

本文采用溶胶-凝胶法以异丙醇铝、正硅酸乙酯和氧氯化锆为原料,HNO3为催化剂,PVA为成膜助剂,在多孔陶瓷管上制得了Al2O3-ZrO2-SiO2复合薄膜。研究了组分配比对溶胶性质的影响,结果表明Al2O3∶ZrO2∶SiO2在8∶1∶2～12∶1∶2之间时可得到性能符合要求的溶胶。通过扫描电镜可观察到膜的孔径为2～5μm,且膜与基底结合良好。

Kinetics of Oxidation for β-Sialon in Diphase β-Sialon/Al_2O_3 Composite

Non-isothermal kinetic research has been carried out on oxidation behavior of β-Sialon in diphaseβ-Sialon/Al_2O_3 composite at high temperatures. A kinetic formula is established for non-isothermal oxidation process of β-Sialon. The rate of oxidation process is controlled by chemicalreaction at the initial stage and then by diffusion. The apparent activation energies and appar-ent rate constants at different temperatures are determined by treating TG data of the overallprocess.

铝粉、硅粉加入比例对Al_2O_3-ZrO_2-C材料力学性能的影响

在A l2O3-ZrO2-C材料中加入总质量分数为5%的铝粉和硅粉,改变试样中铝粉和硅粉的质量比(分别为0:1、1:4、2:3和4:1),经配料、混练、成型、烘干后,在埋炭(煤焦炭)气氛中分别于800、1 000、1 300和1 400℃保温3 h煅烧,然后对烧后试样进行三点弯曲试验,并测定烧后试样的平均孔径,分析烧后试样的显微结构。结果表明:铝粉、硅粉的加入比例显著影响A l2O3-ZrO2-C材料的力学性能:经800和1 000℃煅烧后,试样的抗折强度、弹性模量和韧性均随铝粉加入量的增加而增大,而经1 300和1 400℃煅烧后,试样的抗折强度、弹性模量和韧性均随铝粉加入量的增加而减小;试样的平均孔径呈现出与力学性能相反的变化规律。上述这些变化规律是铝液的促烧结作用与高温下生成SiC、A lN晶须的强韧化作用和填隙作用以及生成A lN过多导致的结构疏松作用共同作用的结果。

Reaction thermodynamics and kinetics on in situ Al_2O_3/Cu composites

The preferred internal oxidation of aluminum in Cu Al alloy was used to obtain in situ Al 2O 3/Cu composites. The reinforcement particles were mainly γ Al 2O 3, some θ Al 2O 3 and a little α Al 2O 3. Thermodynamics analyses show that the chemical reactions are 3Cu 2O+2Al=6Cu+Al 2O 3 or 3CuO+2Al=3Cu+Al 2O 3. A related equilibrium diagram was drawn. The experiments and investigation show that the formation rate of Al 2O 3 was controlled by the diffusion of oxygen in matrix.