Prospects for improving the mechanical properties of an aluminum-zirconium composite by adding ultrafine Al2O3 powder synthesized by nitrate combustion

Abstract

The paper presents the results of studying the mechanisms of sintering and properties of an Al2O3–ZrO2 composite doped with ultrafine Al2O3 powder (UFP) synthesized by burning nitrates. The material is sintered at temperatures ranging between 1450 and 1550 °C with the analysis of its physical and mechanical properties. It is shown that, as the sintering temperature and Al2O3 UFP concentration increase, linear shrinkage, microhardness, and strength naturally grow (the maximum values at 1550 °С are 27.8%, 19 GPa, and 357 MPa, respectively). The introduction of the Al2O3 UFP into the composite makes it possible to achieve an apparent density of 4.20 g/cm3 even at a sintering temperature of 1550 °С.