A role of TiO2 in the formation of the microstructure, phase composition and mechanical properties of Ca-TZP/WC composites
Waldemar Pyda, Norbert Moskała, Anna Pyda Akademia Górniczo-Hutnicza, Wydział Inżynierii Materiałowej i Ceramiki, al. Mickiewicza 30, 30-059 Kraków
Quarterly No. 1, 2005 pages 63-69
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abstract Ceramic matrix composites (CMC) in the system composed of tetragonal polycrystalline zirconia stabilized with calcia and WC particulates (Ca-TZP/WC) have been prepared by using a conventional way which involved mixing component powders and their consolidation by hot pressing. The hydrothermally crystallized nanometric zirconia powder containing 7 mol % CaO in solid solution with ZrO2 and the commercial WC one were used. TiO2 was introduced to the zirconia nanopowder in amount not exceeded 1.5 mol % by means of a co-precipitation method. The composites contained 10% of the WC particulates by volume. An effect of the TiO2 content and hot pressing temperature on phase composition, microstructure and mechanical properties of the Ca-TZP/WC composites was studied. The TiO2 additive eliminated microstructural inhomogeneities of the zirconia matrix. Reduction of a critical size of the tetragonal grains with TiO2 content has been found. This favoured transformation of the tetragonal ZrO2 polymorph to monoclinic. Both the WC inclusions and TiO2 additive caused a decrease of the zirconia matrix grain size. In reverse, this favoured retention of the tetragonal phase in the material microstructures. Reasons for the zirconia grain size reduction are discussed. The improved strength (up to 1.3 ±0.1 GPa) has been found in the composites when compared with the matrix material. Key words: ZrO2, TiO2, ceramic matrix composites, grain growth, mechanical properties