Effect of needle ZrO2 crystals on heat resistance of Al2O3+Mo cermet

One of the methods for enhancing the spalling resistance of non-metallic refractory compounds is the creation of composite materials. The investigation concerned the Al2O3-based composite material containing 80 wt.% Al2O3 and 20 wt.% Mo and reinforced with needle single crystals of ZrO2. The spalling resistance was determined in terms of heating-cooling cycles which the material is capable of withstanding and of the residual strength of the material after a specified number of cycles. It was established that the spalling resistance depends to a great degree of the porosity and other structural particularities of the thermally loaded metal