Study on Thermal Shock Resistance of Alumina Composite Ceramics by Indention Quenching Method

Abstract

Alumina ceramics are the most widely used structural ceramics, especially in aviation, spaceflight and war industry area. However, alumina is of covalent bond, with low fracture toughness and poor thermal shock resistance, which baffle the application of the alumina ceramics in engineering. In this paper, mullite fiber was used to improve its toughness and thermal shock resistance. Alumina-mullite composite ceramics were prepared by hot press sintering. The effect of mullite fiber on thermal shock resistance of ceramics was investigated through indention quenching method. Meanwhile, the mechanism of its reinforcing and toughening and the relationship between mechanical properties and addition of mullite fiber were also discussed.