Numéro
J. Phys. IV France
Volume 03, Numéro C7, Novembre 1993
The 3rd European Conference on Advanced Materials and Processes
Troisiéme Conférence Européenne sur les Matériaux et les Procédés Avancés
Page(s) C7-1769 - C7-1774
DOI https://doi.org/10.1051/jp4:19937280
The 3rd European Conference on Advanced Materials and Processes
Troisiéme Conférence Européenne sur les Matériaux et les Procédés Avancés

J. Phys. IV France 03 (1993) C7-1769-C7-1774

DOI: 10.1051/jp4:19937280

Microstructure and mechanical properties of pressureless sintered alumina-silver composites

J. WANG, C.B. PONTON and P.M. MARQUIS

IRC in Materials for High Performance Applications and School of Metallurgy and Materials, The University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, U.K.


Abstract
The silver toughened alumina ceramics, which were fabricated via a conventional ceramic processing route using commercially available alumina and silver oxide powders as the starting materials, exhibit a higher fracture toughness (6 to 9 MPam0.5) than the monolithic alumina ceramic ( 2.5 to 3.0 MPam0.5). The weak interfacial bonding between the silver inclusions and the alumina matrix is characterised by the occurrence of voids or pores at the interface, the formation of which is due to the high vapour pressure of molten silver at the sintering temperature. The thermal expansion mismatch between the metallic phase and the ceramic matrix generates residual strains in the composite structure. A microstructural study using in-situ TEM observation showed that the thermal strains were accommodated largely by the silver grains, which are much more deformable than the rigid alumina grains. Both the well established dislocation rings and deformation twins were observed to occur in the silver grains entrapped at the grain boundaries and grain junctions of the alumina matrix.



© EDP Sciences 1993