Al2o3-Zro2 Ceramic Composites by Liquid Infiltration : Preparation and properties

The work is focused at the study of preparation of two-phase Al2O3-ZrO2 ceramics. As a preparation method liquid infiltration of porous alumina compacts with organic precursors of zirconia was used. According to available literature data, the method has never been used for preparation of composites in the studied system. The work is therefore aimed especially at the study of the process of infiltration, but also at subsequent steps, which include decomposition of the infiltrant and crystallization of secondary phases in the matrix. These are seen as decisive steps for preparation of high quality two phase ceramics by the selected method. Further study is focused at the study of microstructure and composition of dense ceramics prepared by sintering of porous two-phase compacts to high density, as well as phase and microstructure development in the course of sintering. In order to evaluate the suitability and the measure the success of the infiltration procedure for preparation of Al2O3 ZrO2 composites mechanical properties - microhradness and fracture toughness - of prepared composites are determined.