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B 6 O: A Correlation Between Mechanical Properties and Microstructure Evolution upon Al 2 O 3 Addition During Hot Pressing
Author(s) -
Kleebe H.J.,
Lauterbach S.,
Shabalala T. C.,
Herrmann M.,
Sigalas I.
Publication year - 2008
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.1551-2916.2007.02167.x
Subject(s) - microstructure , materials science , fracture toughness , sintering , transmission electron microscopy , nanostructure , hot pressing , grain growth , grain size , boron , aluminium , composite material , scanning electron microscope , phase (matter) , metallurgy , mineralogy , nanotechnology , chemistry , organic chemistry
B 6 O powders were hot pressed with and without Al 2 O 3 as a sintering additive at temperatures up to 1900°C and a pressure of 50 MPa. The microstructure of a doped and undoped sample was studied by transmission electron microscopy techniques. This paper aims at studying the correlation between micro/nanostructure evolution and the resulting mechanical properties; i.e., hardness and fracture toughness. The addition of alumina yields the formation of a secondary aluminum borate phase in addition to promoting grain growth strongly. While the addition of Al 2 O 3 slightly decreased the hardness of the B 6 O polycrystals, the corresponding fracture toughness was strongly improved, as compared with the undoped material.