Title: Production of mullite-zirconia ceramic composites by reaction sintering

Authors: Seher Kinikoglu, Muzeyyen Marsoglu

Addresses: Marmara Research Centre, Materials Dept., Gebze, Kocaeli, Turkey. ' Yildiz University, Metallurgical Engineering Dept., Istanbul, Turkey

Abstract: Mullite is gaining an increasing interest among ceramists due to its low thermal expansion coefficient, high melting point and reasonable mechanical strength at room temperature. The fracture toughness and strength of mullite can be improved by the addition of zirconia. Zirconia-mullite ceramic composites can be produced either by the addition of zirconia to mullite or by the reaction sintering of zircon (ZrSi0₄) and alumina mixtures to obtain zirconia dispersed in mullite matrix. In the present work, the reaction sintering of zircon and alumina has been studied. The bulk density, microstructure and X-ray diffraction studies were carried out on the samples sintered at 1450°C, 1500°C and 1600°C for 1, 2 and 4 hours. The strength of the materials at room temperature was measured by three-point bending and fracture toughness values were obtained by Vickers indentation tests.

Keywords: ceramic composites; mullite; transformation toughening; zirconia; reaction sintering; fracture toughness; strength.

DOI: 10.1504/IJMPT.1993.036522

International Journal of Materials and Product Technology, 1993 Vol.8 No.1, pp.43 - 48

Published online: 04 Nov 2010 *

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