Preparation and characterization of alumina-iron cermets by hot-pressing of nanocomposite powders

• Published in: Journal of materials science Vol. 32; no. 17; pp. 4513 - 4521
• Main Authors: GUICHARD, J. L, TILLEMENT, O, MOCELLIN, A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Heidelberg Springer 01.09.1997; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Aluminum oxide; Applied sciences; Ball milling; Cermets; Exact sciences and technology; Fracture toughness; Inclusions; Iron; Materials science; Metals. Metallurgy; Nanocomposites; Powder metallurgy. Composite materials; Production techniques; Shear modulus; Sintered metals and alloys. Pseudo alloys. Cermets; Sintering (powder metallurgy); Cermet; Rupture; Grinding(comminution); Mechanical properties; Iron; Nanostructure; Hardness; Microstructure; Powder metallurgy; Alumina; Powder; Fracture toughness
• ISSN: 0022-2461; 1573-4803
• DOI: 10.1023/A:1018665116215

Alumina composites with 0–36 vol% iron metal dispersed inclusions have been prepared by a new processing route. Nanostructured powders were synthesized by a high energy dry ball-milling process and then consolidated by sintering at 1700 K under a pressure of 30 MPa. The materials consist of micrometre-size Al2O3 with metallic Fe in isolated regions from 10 μm down to nanometre size. From low to high metallic contents, the same type of interwoven microstructure is observed. Hardness, elastic and shear moduli, fracture toughness and the size of the inclusions vary regularly with the metal content. Addition of metal increased the fracture toughness from 3.0 to 8 MPa m1/2.