2014•Advances in science and technologyRequires access
Sintering of Al2O3-TiO2 Mixtures Obtained by High-Energy Ball Milling
Alfeu Saraiva Ramos, Marisa Aparecida de Souza, Roberto de Oliveira Magnago, Claudinei dos Santos, Camila Aparecida Araújo da Silva, Bianca de Almeida Fortes
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Abstract
In this work, the preparation of Al2O3-TiO2 ceramics by high-energy ball milling varying the molar fraction in 1:1 and 3:1 was investigated. The powder mixtures were processed in a planetary mill at 250rpm and a ball-to-powder weight ratio of 5:1, for 120min. Compacts were obtained by cold pressing at 100MPa. These specimens were heated at 1000◦C for 30min to promote the water evaporation, and subsequently sintered at 1500◦C for 240min. Samples were characterized by relative density and X-ray diffraction. Hardness and fracture toughness were determined by Vickers Indentation Method. The crystallite sizes were lower than 420 and 560Å in Al2O3-TiO2 and 3Al2O3-TiO2 powders, respectively. After sintering, XRD analysis indicates Al2TiO5 and Al2O3/Al2TiO5 as major crystalline phases for Al2O3-TiO2 and 3Al2O3-TiO2 compositions, respectively. The relative density of the Al2O3-TiO2 ceramics was higher than 90% in both compositions. However, hardness and fracture toughness results of 10.7GPa or 10.5GPa and 3.2MPa.m1/2 or 2.6MPa.m1/2 for Al2O3-TiO2 and 3Al2O3-TiO2 mixtures respectively, indicates that microstructure duplex composed by Al2O3 and Al2TiO5 grains lead to improvement of toughness of these ceramics.