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Alumina–Nickel Composite Processed via Co‐Assembly Using Freeze‐Casting and Spark Plasma Sintering
Author(s) -
Huang Jiacheng,
Rubink William S.,
Lide Hunter,
Scharf Thomas W.,
Banerjee Rajarshi,
MinaryJolandan Majid
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
advanced engineering materials
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.938
H-Index - 114
eISSN - 1527-2648
pISSN - 1438-1656
DOI - 10.1002/adem.201801103
Subject(s) - materials science , spark plasma sintering , ceramic , composite number , composite material , fracture toughness , flexural strength , indentation , lamellar structure , sintering , nickel , casting , metallurgy
A metal–ceramic composite comprised of ≈82 vol% alumina (Al 2 O 3 ) and ≈18 vol% nickel (Ni) is fabricated via co‐assembly of alumina micro‐platelets with Ni particles using the freeze‐casting process followed by the spark plasma sintering (SPS). The SPS processing with a custom‐designed temperature‐pressure history result in formation of elongated Ni phase between the lamellar‐ceramic phase. Results of the mechanical characterization shows that inclusion of Ni improves the flexural strength of the composite by more than 47% compared to the lamellar ceramic. Additionally, the crack initiation (K IC ) and crack growth toughness increase by 20% and 47%, respectively. The inclusion of softer Ni phase does not compromise the indentation modulus and indentation hardness of the composite compared to the pure ceramic.