Effect of sintering additives size on the microstructure and wear properties of Al₂O₃ ceramics

ABSTRACT

Al₂O₃ ceramics was sintered at low-temperature by using sintering additives. The effect of the particle size of TiO₂ sintering additive on the microstructure and friction-wear properties of Al₂O₃ ceramics was studied by using XRD and SEM. The bulk density and hardness of the Al₂O₃ ceramics were tested by Archimedes's method and the microhardness meter, respectively. M-2000 friction and wear test machine was used to analyze the friction and wear properties. The results show that with the increase of sintering temperature (1300-1500°C), the density and hardness of Al₂O₃ ceramics with 1.5wt.% TiO₂ increased, while the friction coefficient and wear rate decreased. At the same sintering temperature, the friction coefficient and wear rate of Al₂O₃ ceramics with nano TiO₂ is lower than that of with micro TiO₂, that is, the sintering of Al₂O₃ ceramics was positively affected by nano TiO₂ significantly. The main wear mechanisms of Al₂O₃ ceramics sintered at lower temperature are brittle fracture wear, and the wear of Al₂O₃ ceramics prepared at high temperature was dominated by plastic deformation characterized with microcutting.

KEYWORDS:

• Al₂O₃ ceramics
• TiO₂ sintering additives
• friction and wear
• particle size

CLC Number:

• TQ174

Document Code:

• A

Funding

This project was financially supported by SME Technology Innovation Fund (item No.: 13C26216306098).