Preparation of high-density YAG/ZrB2 multi-phase ceramics by spark plasma sintering

ZrB2 and YAG are widely applied because of some excellent properties, but ZrB2 is difficult to prepare as a high-density ceramic, and it is easily oxidized in high temperature air, which limits the application of ZrB2 materials. To obtain high-density for better oxidation resistance ZrB2 ceramic materials, in this paper, Al2O3 and Y2O3 are added into ZrB2 raw material to prepare high-density YAG/ZrB2 multi-phase ceramics by spark plasma sintering. Through the above analysis, it is proposed that 1600 degrees C is regarded as a critical sintering temperature (Tc) to fabricate YAG/ZrB2 multi-phase ceramics. Only if the sintering temperature is higher than Tic, can a nearly full density composite be achieved. The microstructure of sintered YAG/ZrB2 multi-phase ceramics after 4 minutes at 1600 degrees C is a better compact, the density and relative density are 5.5865 g/cm(3) and 99.40% respectively, which indicates that high-density YAG/ZrB2 multi-phase ceramics have been fabricated successfully.