Archives of Metallurgy and Materials

Abstract

EnriquE rocha-rangEl 1* , carlos a. callEs-arriaga 1 , Juan lópEz-hErnándEz 1 , José a. rodríguEz-garcía 1 Manufacture of toughened al 2 o 3 -Based coMposites By the coMBination of rBao and sps processesThe effect of additions of silver or titanium (0.5 or 3 vol.%) microparticles on the microstructure, as well as some physical properties of al 2 o 3 -based composites, were studied. The processing method for the manufacturing of alumina-based composites was a combination of rBao and sps processes. after the sps process, bodies with almost full density were obtained. observations by optical microscopy show a very fine and homogenous microstructure in all samples. concerning mechanical properties, the addition of metals on alumina increases its fracture toughness significantly (112% for the sample with additions of silver, while the composite with additions of titanium fracture toughness increases by 72%). in terms of optical properties, both silver and titanium improve the absorbance in the visible range.