A novel sol-gel route to prepare 50% PSZ-50% AI2O3 composite with duplex microstructure

摘要

Compared with fine-grained single-phase materials, duplex microstructures with fine grain size are resistant to coarsening, especially at high temperature. They lend themselves to superplasticity and grain growth control [1,2]. A remarkable system, 50% Al2O3-50% c-ZrO2 composite, has been demonstrated effective in particle pinning [2], But its room temperature mechanical properties, e.g. toughness, are not that promising. And the ideal homogeneity obtained by ball milling, a popular process for composite fabrication, depends upon the particle size of the starting powders. The sol-gel method is considered competitive in producing homogeneous duplex or multiphase composites with high purity and ultrafine structure [3], although alkoxides, the usual precursors, are expensive for the fabrication of ceramics. And it seems that low cost inorganic precursors are rarely exploited. This work reports a novel sol-gel method to prepare the 50% PSZ-50% AI2O3 (vol%) composite with duplex microstructure by using inorganic precursors. We also mention the properties of the composite obtained in our preliminary studies.