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Enhancing microstructural properties of alumina ceramics via binary sintering aids

二元烧结助剂增强氧化铝陶瓷的微观结构及性能

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Abstract

Alumina ceramics are widely used in many fields such as cutting tools, laser shock materials, roadbed board and refractory. Herein, Al2O3 ceramics are prepared by a low-cost pressureless sintering technology, using the binary sintering aids of MgO and SiO2. The effects of sintering temperature and the ratio of binary sintering aids on the mechanical properties and microstructure of Al2O3 ceramics are investigated. A spinel second phase (MgAl2O4) is found out by the analysis of the results of XRD and EDS when MgO and SiO2 are introduced in the samples. The optimum properties are found when MgO content is 20 wt% based on the total sintering aids and the sintering temperature is 1550 °C. The bending strength and the bulk density reach a maximum value of 314 MPa and 3.73 g/cm3, respectively. The addition of appropriate amount of SiO2 makes the formation of liquid phase sintering and the removal of large pores. Meanwhile, a small amount of magnesium oxide doping has an effect on the grain refinement from the microstructure of the sample. Therefore, it is believed that MgO and SiO2 are the ideal sintering aids for promoting the densification and property of alumina ceramics.

摘要

Al2O3陶瓷广泛应用于刀具, 激光冲击材料, 路基基板, 耐火材料等领域。本文以MgO和SiO2 作为烧结助剂, 通过低成本无压烧结技术制备了Al2O3陶瓷, 并研究了烧结温度和二元烧结助剂配比对 Al2O3陶瓷力学性能和显微组织的影响。XRD和EDS分析结果表明, 在样品中加入MgO和SiO2后形成 了尖晶石相(MgAl2O4)。当烧结助剂总量固定, MgO的掺加量为20 wt%, 烧结温度为1550 °C时, 烧 结性能最佳。烧结样品的抗弯强度和密度的最大值分别为314 MPa和3.73 g/cm3。适量SiO2的加入有利 于液相烧结形成和大孔隙的去除。同时, 从样品的微观结构来看, 少量MgO的掺入对晶粒细化产生了 影响。综上表明, MgO和SiO2是促进氧化铝陶瓷致密化和性能提升的理想烧结助剂。

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Funding

Projects(11772207, U2130128) supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China; Projects (E2019210042, E2017210065) supported by the Natural Science Foundation of Hebei Province, China; Project(QN2019137) supported by the Natural Science Foundation of the Hebei Education Department, China; Project (A2019210204) supported by the Natural Science Foundation of Hebei Province for Distinguished Young Scholars, China; Project (216Z4302G) supported by Central Government Guiding Local Science and Technology Development, China; Project supported by Youth Top-notch Talents Supporting Plan of Hebei Province, China

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Materials Science and Engineering, Hebei Key Laboratory of Material Near Net Forming Technology, Hebei University of Science and Technology, Shijiazhuang, 050018, China

    Yan-jun Hu  (胡彦君)

  2. School of Materials Science and Engineering, Shijiazhuang Tiedao University, Shijiazhuang, 050043, China

    Zi-qiang Yin  (尹自强), Yu-bo Gong  (龚雨波), Zhi-gang Yang  (杨治刚) & Jin-jin Zhao  (赵晋津)

  3. Institute of Materials for Energy Conversion, Shijiazhuang Tiedao University, Shijiazhuang, 050043, China

    Zi-qiang Yin  (尹自强), Yu-bo Gong  (龚雨波), Zhi-gang Yang  (杨治刚) & Jin-jin Zhao  (赵晋津)

  4. Nantong, Zhuhai, Kunming Cellulose Fibers Company Technical Center, Nantong, 226008, China

    Zhan-ping Yang  (杨占平), Yin-chun Liang  (梁银春) & De-jun Dong  (董德俊)

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  1. Yan-jun Hu  (胡彦君)
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Correspondence to Zhi-gang Yang  (杨治刚), De-jun Dong  (董德俊) or Jin-jin Zhao  (赵晋津).

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Contributors

YANG Zhi-gang and ZHAO Jin-jin provided the concept and edited the draft of manuscript. HU Yan-jun and YIN Zi-qiang conducted the literature review and wrote the first draft of the manuscript. GONG Yu-bo and YANG Zhan-ping analyzed the measured data. LIANG Yin-chun and DONG De-jun edited the draft of manuscript. All authors replied to reviewers’ comments and revised the final version.

Conflict of interest

HU Yan-jun, YIN Zi-qiang, GONG Yu-bo, YANG Zhi-gang, YANG Zhan-ping, LIANG Yin-chun, DONG De-jun, ZHAO Jin-jin declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Hu, Yj., Yin, Zq., Gong, Yb. et al. Enhancing microstructural properties of alumina ceramics via binary sintering aids. J. Cent. South Univ. 28, 3705–3713 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11771-021-4889-1

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