Lecture 23
Examples of Toughened
Ceramics 1
Ref: Richerson, Modern Ceramic Engineering, Ch17, Marcel Dekker, 1992
Topics to discuss....
1. Self-reinforced ceramics
Self-reinforced Si3N4
Self-reinforced ZrC
Transformation toughened ceramics
Introduction
Self-reinforced ceramics
Microstructure having enhanced toughness is produced during sintering
or heat treatment without adding a second phase.
Examples: Si3N4, ZrC, PSZs, TZPz, and ZTCs.
Particle-reinforced ceramics
Addition of a dispersion of second phase particles produces toughening.
Examples: Alumina ceramics reinforced with SiC, TiB2, and TiC particle.
(a) (b)
Binary phase diagrams of (a) ZrO2-CaO system, (b) ZrO2-MgO system.
Retention of tetragonal ZrO2 phase metastably at RT and its
stress induced transformation to monoclinic zirconia phase is
the key of obtaining transformation toughening.
Variation in fracture toughness and critical grain size as function of yttria content
A similar microstructure and properties can be achieved
in CeO2-ZrO2 system (Ce-TZP). Table 9.3 shows typical
properties of Y-TZP and Ce-TZP ceramics.
Mg-PSZ and Ca-PSZ exhibit changes in precipitate size and grain size
at prolonged heating at about 1000 °C.
This results in an increase in monoclinic phase and a decrease in tetragonal phase,
which subsequently decrease strength and toughness.
1000-h ageing at 1000 °C causes a strength loss up to 30–70 % for of Mg-PSZ, and
only about 7 % for Y-TZP.
This shows Y-TZP has a better high temperature property.
Pure alumina – strength dropped from 320 to less than 150 MPa
14 vol.% ZrO2 – from 700 to about 500 MPa