The fibres reinforced thin architectural ceramic plates of 900?1800?2.5mm
with excellent mechanical properties were prepared by fast-sintering method
using a controllable fibre dispersion process. The effects of ball-milling
time on dispersity, average length-to-diameter ratio and microstructure of
alumina fibres were investigated. Meanwhile, the effects of alumina fibre
contents on the bulk density, water absorption, phase transformation and
microstructure of the thin ceramic plate were researched. It was found that
the two-step ball-milling process can effectively control the average
length-to-diameter ratio of alumina fibres, achieving a good dispersion
mixture of fibres and ceramic powders. Ceramics bulk density and bending
strength increase with fibre contents rise from 0 to 5 wt.% and then
decrease with further fibre content addition from 5 to 15wt.%. The in situ
formed mullite whiskers via fast-sintering method are beneficial for
protecting fibres and fibre/matrix interfaces. The maximum value of bending
strength and fracture toughness reach 147MPa for 5 wt.% fibre contents and
2.6MPa?m1/2 for 9 wt.%fibre contents, corresponding to the strengthening of
alumina fibres and the formation of mullite whiskers in fibre/matrix
interfaces and matrix via fast-sintering process.