Author(s)

M. A. Gafur^1*, Md. Saifur Rahman Sarker², Md. Zahangir Alam³, M. R. Qadir¹

¹PP & PDC, BCSIR, Dhaka, Bangladesh.
²Department of Chemistry, Kurigram Govt. College, Kurigram, Rangpur, Bangladesh.
³Department of ACCE, Dhaka University, Dhaka, Bangladesh.

Alumina-Zirconia (Al₂O₃-ZrO₂) composites especially Zirconia Toughened Alumina (ZTA) shows better mechanical properties over alumina. Al₂O₃-ZrO₂ composites were prepared by powder compaction method varying 3 mol% yttria stabilized zirconia (3Y-ZrO₂) content from 0 to 20 vol% using small amount of MgO as sintering aid. The composites were sintered for two hours in air at 1580°C. At this temperature maximum density was achieved 99.31% of theoretical density for composite containing 20 vol% 3Y-ZrO₂. Density measurement of sintered composites was carried out using Archimedes’s method. Hardness and fracture toughness measurement was carried out using Vickers indentation. Phase content and t-ZrO₂ retention were detected by means of X-ray diffraction (XRD). Microstructure of the composites and grain size of alumina and zirconia was determined by Scanning Electron Microscopic (SEM) analysis. Maximum microhardness (17.46 GPa) was achieved for composite containing 5 vol% ZrO₂ and maximum flexural strength (684.32 MPa) and fracture toughness (10.33 MPam^0.5) was achieved for composite containing 20 vol% of 3Y-ZrO₂. The aim of the present work is to investigate the optimum 3Y-ZrO₂ content for obtaining maximum density, microhardness, flexural strength and fracture toughness of Al₂O₃-ZrO₂ composites.

Alumina-Zirconia Composites, Sintering, t-ZrO₂ Retention, Grain Size

Gafur, M. , Sarker, M. , Alam, M. and Qadir, M. (2017) Effect of 3 mol% Yttria Stabilized Zirconia Addition on Structural and Mechanical Properties of Alumina-Zirconia Composites. Materials Sciences and Applications, 8, 584-602. doi: 10.4236/msa.2017.87041.