COMPOSITE MATERIAL IN THE Al2O3-20 VOL. % YAG SYSTEM

YAG (Y3Al5O12) is one of three phases existing in the Al2O3-Y2O3. system. This compound contains the highest alumina content. So, it seems justified to assume that heat treatment of the alumina - yttria mixture, with alumina being dominating constituent should result in YAG inclusions within alumina matrix. Proportion of yttria in the present study corresponded to 20 vol. % YAG after this reaction. Yttrium nitrate, prepared by dissolving yttria in nitric acid was introduced into (alpha) over tilde Al2O3 suspension of 50 vol. % concentration. The vigorously stirred suspension was treated with (NH4)(2)CO3 until pH of the suspension reached value of 8.5. Under such conditions quantitative precipitation of yttria precursor occurs. Drying of the suspension and its calcination at 600 degrees C resulted in the homogenous mixture of alumina and yttria particles. Size of the latter were several times smaller than the former ones. In order to remove agglomerates this mixture was subjected to short attrition milling in aqueous suspension of pH selected on the basis of zeta (zeta) potential measurements. It was found that acidic conditions, pH = 3, (realized with HNO3) resulted after drying in hard agglomerates. At elevated temperatures this powder showed emission of NO and NO2 coming most probably from the decomposition of aseotropic nitric acid solution filling the inter-particle space and playing the role of "glue" responsible for the high strength of agglomerates. That is why compacts of the powder homogenized under acidic conditions show poor sintering ability. Much better properties showed powders homogenized under basic condition, i.e. at pH = 8 and 10. At sintering temperatures of 1500 and 1600 degrees C they give dense materials composed of YAG inclusions within alumina matrix. YAG particles resulted from the reaction of Y2O3 with Al2O3 during heat treatment. Microstructure of the material derived from the powder homogenized at pH = 8 is more uniform and shows smaller alumina and YAG grains than that prepared at pH = 10. As is indicated by the zeta (zeta) potential measurements, pH = 8 of the alumina/yttria suspension corresponds to the hetero-flocculation effect. Microscopic observations reveal that YAG inclusions limit grain-growth of alumina matrix compared to the pure alumina polycrystal. This effect is more visible in the material derived from the powder homogenized at pH = 8 than that at pH = 10. In both cases the materials are characterized by higher fracture toughness and hardness than that observed in pure alumina polycrystal sintered at the same temperature. It is worth to notice that K-Ic values approach those characteristic for yttria stabilized tetragonal zirconia (3Y-TZP), a material which is known from its high toughness.