Zirconia toughened alumina (ZTA) ceramics are very promising materials for structural and biomedical applications due to their high hardness, fracture toughness, strength, corrosion and abrasion resistance and excelle...Zirconia toughened alumina (ZTA) ceramics are very promising materials for structural and biomedical applications due to their high hardness, fracture toughness, strength, corrosion and abrasion resistance and excellent biocompatibility. The effect of unstabilized ZrO<sub>2</sub> on the density, fracture toughness, microhardness, flexural strength and microstructure of some Zirconia-toughened alumina (ZTA) samples was investigated in this work. The volume percentage of unstabilized ZrO<sub>2</sub> was varied from 0% - 20% whereas sintering time and sintering temperature were kept constant at 2 hours and 1580°C. The samples were fabricated from nanometer-sized (<em>α</em>-Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub>: 150 nm, monoclinic ZrO<sub>2</sub>: 30 - 60 nm) powder raw materials by the conventional mechanical mixing process. Using a small amount of sintering aid (0.2 wt% MgO) almost 99.2% of theoretical density, 8.54 MPam<sup>?</sup> fracture toughness, 17.35 GPa Vickers microhardness and 495.67 MPa flexural strength were found. It was observed that the maximum flexural strength and fracture toughness was obtained for 10 vol% monoclinic ZrO<sub>2</sub> but maximum Vickers microhardness was achieved for 5 vol% ZrO<sub>2</sub> although the maximum density was found for 20 vol% ZrO<sub>2</sub>. It is assumed that this was happened due to addition of denser component, phase transformation of monoclinic ZrO<sub>2</sub> and the changes of grain size of α-Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> and ZrO<sub>2</sub>.展开更多
Ceramics constitute an integral part of highly efficient armours due to their low density, high hardness, strength and stiffness. However, they lack toughness and multi-hit capability. Therefore, zirconia toughened al...Ceramics constitute an integral part of highly efficient armours due to their low density, high hardness, strength and stiffness. However, they lack toughness and multi-hit capability. Therefore, zirconia toughened alumina is investigated. The hardness is evaluated using Vickers, Knoop and instrumented indentations, while the fracture toughness is evaluated using the indentation technique and Charpy tests. The strength is evaluated using ring-on-ring, four point bend and drop weight tests. The Young’s modulus is evaluated using the unloading instrumented indentation curves. Microstructure, porosity and density are characterised using ultrasonic scanning, Archimedes principle, optical and scanning electron microscopy. Results show an indentation size effect on all mechanical properties. A substantial improvement in toughness is achieved through retardation of crack initiation by tetragonal-to-monoclinic phase transformation in zirconia particles, crack deviation thanks to appropriate grain structure, as well as energy absorption by densification due to remaining porosity. This improved toughness is expected to promote multi-hit capability.展开更多
The impact-abrasive wear behavior of ZTA(zirconia toughened alumina)particle(ZTAp)and NbC particle(NbCp)reinforced Fe60 matrix composites(ZTAp-NbCp/Fe60)were investigated.Specimens of pure Fe60 matrix material,NbCp re...The impact-abrasive wear behavior of ZTA(zirconia toughened alumina)particle(ZTAp)and NbC particle(NbCp)reinforced Fe60 matrix composites(ZTAp-NbCp/Fe60)were investigated.Specimens of pure Fe60 matrix material,NbCp reinforced Fe60 composite(NbCp/Fe60)and ZTAp-NbCp/Fe60 with different contents of ZTAp were prepared through vacuum sintering and tested on an MLD-10B Impact Wear Rig.As revealed by the results,NbCp could strengthen Fe60 matrix,and had fine grain strengthening effect on Fe60matrix.When the mass fraction of ZTAp was 5%-15%,the impact-abrasive wear performance of ZTAp-NbCp/Fe60 composites was better than that of Fe60 and NbCp/Fe60.When the mass fraction was 15%,the ZTApNbCp/Fe60 had the best performance.ZTAp could weaken the impact and wear effect of abrasive particles on the composite and protect the matrix.Cracks occured at the interface and at defects in the ZTAp.The former leaded to ZTAp shedding,while the latter leaded to ZTAp fracturing.In both cases,the performance of the composite material would decrease.展开更多
文摘Zirconia toughened alumina (ZTA) ceramics are very promising materials for structural and biomedical applications due to their high hardness, fracture toughness, strength, corrosion and abrasion resistance and excellent biocompatibility. The effect of unstabilized ZrO<sub>2</sub> on the density, fracture toughness, microhardness, flexural strength and microstructure of some Zirconia-toughened alumina (ZTA) samples was investigated in this work. The volume percentage of unstabilized ZrO<sub>2</sub> was varied from 0% - 20% whereas sintering time and sintering temperature were kept constant at 2 hours and 1580°C. The samples were fabricated from nanometer-sized (<em>α</em>-Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub>: 150 nm, monoclinic ZrO<sub>2</sub>: 30 - 60 nm) powder raw materials by the conventional mechanical mixing process. Using a small amount of sintering aid (0.2 wt% MgO) almost 99.2% of theoretical density, 8.54 MPam<sup>?</sup> fracture toughness, 17.35 GPa Vickers microhardness and 495.67 MPa flexural strength were found. It was observed that the maximum flexural strength and fracture toughness was obtained for 10 vol% monoclinic ZrO<sub>2</sub> but maximum Vickers microhardness was achieved for 5 vol% ZrO<sub>2</sub> although the maximum density was found for 20 vol% ZrO<sub>2</sub>. It is assumed that this was happened due to addition of denser component, phase transformation of monoclinic ZrO<sub>2</sub> and the changes of grain size of α-Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> and ZrO<sub>2</sub>.
文摘Ceramics constitute an integral part of highly efficient armours due to their low density, high hardness, strength and stiffness. However, they lack toughness and multi-hit capability. Therefore, zirconia toughened alumina is investigated. The hardness is evaluated using Vickers, Knoop and instrumented indentations, while the fracture toughness is evaluated using the indentation technique and Charpy tests. The strength is evaluated using ring-on-ring, four point bend and drop weight tests. The Young’s modulus is evaluated using the unloading instrumented indentation curves. Microstructure, porosity and density are characterised using ultrasonic scanning, Archimedes principle, optical and scanning electron microscopy. Results show an indentation size effect on all mechanical properties. A substantial improvement in toughness is achieved through retardation of crack initiation by tetragonal-to-monoclinic phase transformation in zirconia particles, crack deviation thanks to appropriate grain structure, as well as energy absorption by densification due to remaining porosity. This improved toughness is expected to promote multi-hit capability.
基金Funded by the National Key Research and Development Program(No.2017YFB0305105)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.51571210)。
文摘The impact-abrasive wear behavior of ZTA(zirconia toughened alumina)particle(ZTAp)and NbC particle(NbCp)reinforced Fe60 matrix composites(ZTAp-NbCp/Fe60)were investigated.Specimens of pure Fe60 matrix material,NbCp reinforced Fe60 composite(NbCp/Fe60)and ZTAp-NbCp/Fe60 with different contents of ZTAp were prepared through vacuum sintering and tested on an MLD-10B Impact Wear Rig.As revealed by the results,NbCp could strengthen Fe60 matrix,and had fine grain strengthening effect on Fe60matrix.When the mass fraction of ZTAp was 5%-15%,the impact-abrasive wear performance of ZTAp-NbCp/Fe60 composites was better than that of Fe60 and NbCp/Fe60.When the mass fraction was 15%,the ZTApNbCp/Fe60 had the best performance.ZTAp could weaken the impact and wear effect of abrasive particles on the composite and protect the matrix.Cracks occured at the interface and at defects in the ZTAp.The former leaded to ZTAp shedding,while the latter leaded to ZTAp fracturing.In both cases,the performance of the composite material would decrease.
