Influence of the Dopants on the Mechanical Properties of Alumina-Based Ceramics

Abstract

In the present study the mechanical properties of dense alumina-based ceramics obtained by two processing routes are investigated. The application of magnetic-pulsed compaction or hot pressing of the powder leads to a comparable combination of microhardness, elastic modulus, and fracture toughness. The insertion of Al into Al 2 O 3 powder increases the microdistortions of the crystalline lattice, resulting in the sufficient decrease of indentation wear-resistance. The usage of ZrO 2 or TiCN as dopants to alumina matrix improves slightly the mechanics of the composites with a noticeable decrease of the material lost by 30% compared to pure alumina at closely spaced arrays of indents. Regardless of the synthesis method, the ceramic grains were formed completely with the fracture travelling along the grain boundaries.