Studies on zirconia dispersed alumina ceramics

The incorporation of ZrO2 in Al2O3 matrix was performed by conventional mechanical mixing and co-precipitation methods. The densification behaviour on sintering up to 1800degC and the resulting microstructural features of these ceramics have been studied. In either case no appreciable densification was noticed up to 1600degC. The coprecipitated powder compacts containing 20% ZrO2 after sintering at 1700degC achieved the density of 4.14 gm.cm-3 and open porosity about 3.0%. Microstructural features showed a pronounced grain growth inhibition effect with increasing concentration of ZrO2. Vacuum hot-pressing was found to be beneficial from the point of view of densification and mechanical properties of these compacts. (author). 21 refs., 1 tab., 4 figs