• Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society
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• v.31 no.5
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• pp.513-519
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• 1994

Alumina composite was fabricated by introducing tetragonal ZrO2 in alumina composite of $\alpha$-alumina reinforced with in-situ formed La-$\beta$-aluminate (LaAl11O18). The powder mixture of composition (100-x)[88 Al2O3+(La2O3+11 Al2O3)]+x vol% ZrO2 was prepared with x from 0 to 40. Dense composites fabricated by hot-pressing exhibited bending strength up to 1200 MPa. The gain growth inhibiting effect of ZrO2 grains and La-$\beta$-aluminate platelets, and possibly the stress-induced phase transformation of ZrO2 have resulted in the high bending strength. The fracture toughness of the composite also increased up to 8.5 MPa.m1/2. The enhancement in toughness can be explained by transformation and microcrack toughening of ZrO2 and by crack deflection and bridging of La-$\beta$-aluminate platelets and ZrO2.

• Journal of the Korean Crystal Growth and Crystal Technology
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.645-650
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• 1998

Alumina- and yttria-coated SiC powder was prepared by the surface-induced precipitation method, and sintered properties of silicon carbide prepared from this powder were investigated. After a well dispersion of SiC powders in the aqueous solution of $Al_2(SO_4)_3$ and $Y_2(SO_4)_3$, the mixed precursors of aluminum hydroxide, aluminum carbonate, yttrium hydroxide, and yttrium carbonate were precipitated on the surfaces of SiC particles through the hydrolysis reaction of urea. SiC specimens with alumina and yttria exhibit, 97.8% of theoretical density after the sintering at $1900^{\circ}C$ for 2 hrs. During annealing at $2000^{\circ}C$, $\beta$longrightarrow$\alpha$ phase transformation of SiC had taken place and resulted with a rodlike microstructure. Toughness of sintered SiC was enhanced by crack deflection around the rodlike grains. In case of annealing less than that of 3 hr, the fracture toughness of SiC was slightly improved with increasing the amount of sintering aid. However, annealed specimens for a long time showed constant fracture toughness even though the amount of sintering aid increased. It is resulted that the main factor for toughening in annealed SiC for a long time is the pullout effect of rodlike grains during the propagation of cracks, and the amount of sintering aids is less effective on the fracture toughness of SiC.