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Impact of alumina powder bed on hardness and fracture toughness in the sintering process of NiO-GDC-Bi2O3 composite prepared by sol-gel method

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Abstract

This study explores the sintering process of NiO–Ce0.9Gd0.1O1.95 + 35 wt% Bi2O3 ceramic composites synthesized via the sol-gel method, with a focus on the influence of an alumina powder bed during sintering. Uniaxially pressed disks were sintered at 890 °C for varying durations (0, 12, 24, and 61 h), with an additional disc sintered at 1450 °C for 6 h for comparative analysis. Sintering processes employed alumina as a powder bed, and subsequent evaluation included hardness and fracture toughness assessments. Relative densities of 53% and 48% were achieved for composites sintered at 890 and 1450 °C, respectively. The maximum hardness of 4.13 ± 0.13 GPa was attained by the composite sintered at 890 °C for 61 h, while the highest fracture toughness (2.98 ± 0.35 MPa.m1/2) was observed in the composite sintered at 1450 °C for 6 h. Evidence indicates that an interaction between Bi2O3 and the alumina bed occurred, adversely affecting the mechanical properties by promoting the depletion of Bi2O3, especially at elevated sintering temperatures.

Graphical Abstract

The transversal gradient of bismuth content (at%) by EDX analysis in each of the four zones corresponds to one-half of each sample sintered at 890 and 1450 °C. Z1, Z2, and Z3 are lower, middle, and upper transverse zone, respectively. Z4 corresponds to the “as sintered” surface in contact with the alumina powder bed during sintering.

Highlights

  • Alumina bed powder can be harmful for sintering NiO-GDC-Bi2O3 composite.

  • High content of Bi2O3 into NiO-GDC affects fracture toughness and Vickers hardness.

  • Weight loss of Bi2O3 was more critical at a sintering temperature of 1450 °C.

  • After sintering, almost the totality of Bi2O3 was absorbed by the alumina powder bed.

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Data availability

No datasets were generated or analysed during the current study.

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Acknowledgements

The authors wish to express their appreciation to Cesar Leyva P. and Karla Campos V. for assistance in SEM. In addition, we would like to thank Andrés I. Gonzalez J. for his assistance in XRD.

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  1. Centro de Investigación en Materiales Avanzados, S.C., Chih., Miguel de Cervantes 120, Complejo Industrial Chihuahua, 31136, Chihuahua, Mexico

    A. Ramirez-De La Cruz, M. H. Bocanegra-Bernal, A. Aguilar-Elguezabal & A. Reyes-Rojas

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“All authors contributed to the study conception and design. Material preparation, data collection and analysis were performed by A. R., M.B. and A. A. The first draft of the manuscript was written by A. R. and M. B. All authors commented on previous versions of the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.”

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Correspondence to M. H. Bocanegra-Bernal.

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La Cruz, A.RD., Bocanegra-Bernal, M.H., Aguilar-Elguezabal, A. et al. Impact of alumina powder bed on hardness and fracture toughness in the sintering process of NiO-GDC-Bi2O3 composite prepared by sol-gel method. J Sol-Gel Sci Technol (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10971-024-06369-x

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