Zrc ceramics incorporated with different-sized SiC particles

ABSTRACT

Three different SiC powders with average particle sizes of 0.45, 3.5 and 10 µm were used to prepare ZrC-20vol.-% SiC ceramics by hot pressing. The effects of SiC particle size on the densification, microstructure, mechanical properties and thermal properties of ZrC–SiC ceramics were studied. Ceramics prepared from SiC with finer particle sizes exert higher bending strength, hardness and lower thermal conductivity. The ZrC–SiC ceramics with a starting SiC particle size of 3.5 µm has relative high fracture toughness than others. Analysis indicates that SiC grain size and the grain boundaries control the thermal conductivity ZrC–SiC ceramics. Ceramics prepared from SiC with the particle size of 10 µm exhibits the highest thermal conductivity due to the larger grains and less grain boundaries.

KEYWORDS:

• Zirconium carbide (ZrC)
• silicon carbide (SiC)
• densification
• microstructure
• mechanical properties

Acknowledgements

The State Key Laboratory of High Performance Ceramics and Superfine Microstructure of Shanghai Institute of Ceramics are gratefully acknowledged.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

The authors express their gratitude to financial supports from the National Natural Science Foundation of China [No. 51532009; 51502322; 11575275].