Hostname: page-component-848d4c4894-ndmmz Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-05-23T13:51:13.815Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Effect of Whisker Distribution on the Densification and Microstructures of AI2O3-Si3N4 Composites

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  25 February 2011

W.J. Tseng
Affiliation:
Materials Science Program, Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY 14627.
P.D. Funkenbusch
Affiliation:
Materials Science Program, Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY 14627.
Get access

Abstract

This study focuses on (1) the co-dispersion behaviors of dissimilar phases exhibiting different surface chemistry in ceramic suspensions and (2) the effect of local whisker distribution on matrix densification. Si3N4 whiskers and Al2O3 powders are mixed and slipcast in aqueous solution. Local whisker clusters are observed and remain stable even after prolonged sintering. High shear-rate agitation of the composite suspension does not eliminate the whisker agglomeration. Surface pre-treatment of whiskers, such as acid/base-washing, effectively reduces the clustering and sintered flaw size. From SEM observation it is found that the matrix powder densifies highly inhomogeneously because of the constraint imposed by the reinforcement. Matrix powder is inhibited from diffusing into “inter-whisker” voids.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 1992

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

1. Tiegs, T.N. and Becher, P.F., Am. Ceram. Soc. Bull. 66, 339 (1987).Google Scholar
2. Sudre, O., Lam, D.C.C. and Lange, F.F. in Processing Science of Advanced Ceramics, edited by Aksay, I.A., McVay, G.L. and Ulrich, D.R. (Mater. Res. Soc. Symp. Proc. 155, Pittsburgh, PA 1989), 363368.Google Scholar
3. Sundaresan, S. and Aksay, I.A., J. Am. Ceram. Soc. 73, 54 (1990).Google Scholar
4. Lange, F.F., J. Mater. Res. 2, 59 (1987).Google Scholar
5. Lange, F.F. and Miller, K.T., J. Am. Ceram. Soc. 70, 896 (1987).Google Scholar
6. Sacks, M.D., Lee, H.-W. and Rojas, O.E., J. Am. Ceram. Soc. 71, 370 (1988).Google Scholar
7. Tseng, W.J. and Funkenbusch, P.D., J. Am. Ceram. Soc., in print.Google Scholar
8. Hirata, Y., Matsushita, S., Nakagama, S., Haraguchi, I., Hamada, N., Ishihara, Y. and Hod, S. in Processing Science of Advanced Ceramics, edited by Aksay, I.A., McVay, G.L. and Ulrich, D.R. (Mater. Res. Soc. Symp. Proc. 155, Pittsburgh, PA 1989) pp. 343352.Google Scholar
9. Neergaard, L.J., Karasek, K.R., Donner, J.T. and Bradley, S.A., J. Am. Ceram. Soc. 73, 102 (1990).Google Scholar