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 Al_2O_3-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 Al_2O_3-SiC_w-SiC_(np) advanced ceramic cutting tool material is fabricated by adding both one-dimensional SiC whiskers and zero-dimensional SiC nanoparticles into the Al_2O_3 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 Al_2O_3-SiC_w-SiC_(np) composite with both 20 vol% SiC whiskers and 5 vol% SiC nanoparticles additives have much improved mechanical properties. The flexural strength of Al_2O_3-SiC_w-SiC_(np) is 730±95 MPa and fracture toughness is 5.6±0.6 MPa·m^(1/2). 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.

Microwave synthesis of duplexα/β-SiAlON ceramic cutting inserts:Modifying m,n,z values,synthesis temperature,and excess Y_(2)O_(3) synthesis additive

Duplexα/β-SiAlON ceramic cutting inserts(30α:70β)were synthesized by microwave sintering.The effects of solid solution parameters(m,n,z),synthesis temperature,and amount of excess Y_(2)O_(3) synthesis additive on phase assemblage,microstructure,mechanical properties,and cutting performance were systematically investigated.It was found that increasing m value could improve the formation ofαphase while high z value over 1.0 resulted in the dissolution ofαphase intoβphase and intergranular phase.Increasing the amount of excess Y_(2)O_(3) could promote densification and elongatedβgrain growth;however,the excess Y_(2)O_(3) amount above 4 wt%resulted in substantial crystallization of M'SS phase,thus declining the mechanical properties and wear resistance.The microwave-synthesizedα/β-SiAlON cutting insert with modified parameters(m=1.7,n=1.0,z=0.7,and 3 wt%excess Y_(2)O_(3))was obtained with optimal comprehensive properties,whose tool life was found to increase by approximately 75%in high-speed milling of Inconel 718 superalloy compared to the commercialα/β-SiAlON cutting insert.