Mechanical and Tribological Characterization of a Composite Ceramics Al2O3-ZrO2-3Al2O3+2SiO2

Abstract

Broadly, the mechanical characteristics of ceramic materials can be improved either by a better control of the process of development, or by the implementation of composites. In the first case the mechanical resistance is increased by reduction in the size of the critical defect, in the second the improvement obtained is expressed especially in term of tenacity. I chose in this work to study the reinforcement of alumina according to the use by specific additions. For study the mechanical behavior of my samples, the hardness tests combined with measurements of tenacity were realized by the technique of Vickers indentation. The results show that the mechanical properties of alumina pure at ambient temperature can be optimized (particularly tenacity), according to the use, by specific additions which led to an improvement of the basic microstructure obtained in particular by a reduction in porosity and a better structural homogeneity. In the second part of my study, I evaluated the wear resistance of our samples. The tests of friction and wear are carried out on a polishing machine under the same conditions. I showed during this work that the incorporation of the particles dispersed such as mullite and zirconia carries a significant improvement of the wear resistance of alumina. It highlights the need for controlling the microstructure and for improving the mechanical properties of ceramics, to optimize the wear resistance by abrasion.
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