Fabrication and Characterization of Alumina/Zirconia Ceramic Compound

Sintered ZTA(zirconia toughened alumina) which has good mechanical properties at a low temperature was produced by milling and mixing with Al2O3 and ZrO2(3Y-TZP). In order to examine the effect of sintering aids on the mechanical properties of ZTA, fracture toughness and hardness of the produced ZTA were observed in accordance with change of the added quantity of ZrO2 Scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction technique were applied to observe microstructural change and phase transformation during the process. Experimental results showed that the addition of sintering aids in ZTA at a low temperature induced densification and adding SiO2 and talc lowered sintering temperature and promoted crystallization process of the compound. The mechanical strength of ZTA added ZrO2 showed higher mechanical strength and SEM analysis revealed that Al2O3 and ZrO2 during the sintering process restrained the grain growth each other. Especially, the 92% Al2O3 added sintering aids showed more than 98% of the theoretical density and more than 1500 Hv of hardness value at a low temperature of 1400 degrees C. It was also showed that the fracture toughness is gradually increasing first and decreasing later in accordance with the quantity of ZrO2.