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Alumina Toughened Zirconia Nanocomposite Incorporating Al 2 O 3 Whiskers
Author(s) -
AguilarElguézabal A.,
BocanegraBernal M. H.
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
international journal of applied ceramic technology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.4
H-Index - 57
eISSN - 1744-7402
pISSN - 1546-542X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1744-7402.2012.02759.x
Subject(s) - materials science , fracture toughness , whiskers , nanocomposite , composite material , cubic zirconia , sintering , toughness , vickers hardness test , ceramic , microstructure
We investigated the Vickers hardness and fracture toughness of an Al 2 O 3(n) + 70 wt% ZrO 2 ( TZ ‐ 3Y ) n nanocomposite with addition of 2.5 wt% Al 2 O 3 whiskers. Densities greater than 95% were reached after conventional sintering at 1500°C. The fracture toughness was increased 62% over pure Al 2 O 3 . Microcracking and crack deflection can be the mechanisms responsible to improve the fracture toughness. The use of ATZ composites with a low percent of whiskers can be a promising biomedical material for medical and dental applications given its large increase in fracture toughness over pure alumina and the observed relief from aging issues of zirconia.