Materials Research Bulletin, Vol.33, No.4, 627-633, 1998
Fabrication and mechanical properties of continuously graded WSi2-ZrO2(2Y) materials using wet-molding
Continuously graded WSi2-ZrO2(2Y) materials with high density (99.2% of theoretical) have been fabricated by uniaxial wet-molding, followed by hot pressing (1000 degrees C/1h/30MPa) and hot isostatic pressing (1500 degrees C/2h/196MPa). A mixed solution of glycerin and ethanol with the viscosity of approximate to 6 mPa.s has been used as a dispersion medium in the molding process. The sintered materials show a linear composition profile with a transition from WSi2/ZrO2(2Y) approximate to 75/25 to approximate to 5/95 mol%. Vickers hardness, Hv, for which the value is approximate to 11.2 GPa, is almost independent of the compositional change. Fracture toughness, K-C, increases from 5.6 to 10.3 MPa.m(1/2) with increasing ZrO2(2Y)composition.
Keywords:COMPOSITES;ZIRCONIA