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Processing and Mechanical Properties of Zirconium Diboride‐Based Ceramics Prepared by Spark Plasma Sintering
Author(s) -
Wang Hailong,
Wang ChangAn,
Yao Xuefeng,
Fang Daining
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
journal of the american ceramic society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.9
H-Index - 196
eISSN - 1551-2916
pISSN - 0002-7820
DOI - 10.1111/j.1551-2916.2007.01665.x
Subject(s) - zirconium diboride , materials science , spark plasma sintering , whiskers , fracture toughness , composite material , relative density , flexural strength , sintering , ceramic , zirconium , whisker , metallurgy
Zirconium diboride (ZrB 2 ) reinforced by nano‐SiC whiskers has been prepared by spark plasma sintering (SPS). Of most interest is the densification of ZrB 2 –SiCw composites accomplished by SPS at a temperature as low as 1550°C. The relative density of ZrB 2 –SiCw composites could reach to 97% with an average grain size of 2–3 μm. Both flexural strength and fracture toughness of the composites were improved with increasing amount of SiCw. Flexural strengths ranged from 416 MPa for monolithic ZrB 2 to over 545 MPa for ZrB 2 –15 vol% SiCw composites. Similarly, fracture toughness also increased from 5.46 MPa·m 1/2 to more than 6.81 MPa·m 1/2 in the same composition range. The relative density of ZrB 2 –SiCw composites could be further improved to near 100% by adding some sintering aids such as AlN and Si 3 N 4 ; however, the effects of different sintering additives on the mechanical properties of the composites were different.