Influence of Sintering
on the Development
of Alumina-Toughened Nanocomposites:
Conventional Versus Microwave
K. L. Meena and T. S. Srivatsan
Abstract In this research paper, the physical properties, mechanical properties and
microstructural characteristics of 3 mol% Yttria-Stabilized-Zirconia (3YSZ) matrix
reinforced with 10 volume percent of alumina (Al 2 O 3 ) are presented and briefly
discussed. The composites were developed using the techniques of conventional
sintering [1600 °C, 5 °C/min and held for 6 h] and microwave sintering [1600 °C,
25 °C/min and held for 1 h] under pressure-less condition. The sintered powders
were subsequently compacted using a uniaxial cold isostatic press at a pressure of
200 MPa. The relative density, average grain size, microhardness and fracture toughness of both the conventional sintered samples and microwave sintered samples were
determined and found to be [conventional sintered: density: 98.16 ± 0.15, grain size:
600 nm, microhardness: 16.81 ± 0.7 GPa and fracture toughness: 4.9 MPa m
0.5 ) and
[microwave sintered density:99.29 ± 0.10, grain size: 421 nm, microhardness: 19.65
± 0.5 GPa and fracture toughness: 5.2 MPa m
0.5 ], while the thermal conductivity
was determined to be 2.3 W/mK for the conventional sintered sample and 2.6 W/mK
for the microwave sintered sample. A near uniform microstructure was observed
for both the conventional sintered and microwave sintered samples. The microwave
sintered samples were observed to have superior properties when compared one-onone with the conventional sintered counterpart. This study provides useful information specific to the development of a material for use as a thermal barrier coating and
for its selection and use in dental applications.
Keywords Microwave sintering (MW) · Conventional sintering (CS) ·
Alumina-toughened zirconia (ATZ) · Mechanical properties · Microstructure
analysis
K. L. Meena (B)
Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee,
Roorkee, Uttarkhand 247667, India
e-mail: kmeena@me.iitr.ac.in
T. S. Srivatsan
Department of Mechanical Engineering, The University of Akron, Akron, OH 44325, USA
© The Minerals, Metals & Materials Society 2021
T. S. Srivatsan et al. (eds.), Metal-Matrix Composites, The Minerals, Metals
& Materials Series, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-65249-4_11
163
on the Development
of Alumina-Toughened Nanocomposites:
Conventional Versus Microwave
K. L. Meena and T. S. Srivatsan
Abstract In this research paper, the physical properties, mechanical properties and
microstructural characteristics of 3 mol% Yttria-Stabilized-Zirconia (3YSZ) matrix
reinforced with 10 volume percent of alumina (Al 2 O 3 ) are presented and briefly
discussed. The composites were developed using the techniques of conventional
sintering [1600 °C, 5 °C/min and held for 6 h] and microwave sintering [1600 °C,
25 °C/min and held for 1 h] under pressure-less condition. The sintered powders
were subsequently compacted using a uniaxial cold isostatic press at a pressure of
200 MPa. The relative density, average grain size, microhardness and fracture toughness of both the conventional sintered samples and microwave sintered samples were
determined and found to be [conventional sintered: density: 98.16 ± 0.15, grain size:
600 nm, microhardness: 16.81 ± 0.7 GPa and fracture toughness: 4.9 MPa m
0.5 ) and
[microwave sintered density:99.29 ± 0.10, grain size: 421 nm, microhardness: 19.65
± 0.5 GPa and fracture toughness: 5.2 MPa m
0.5 ], while the thermal conductivity
was determined to be 2.3 W/mK for the conventional sintered sample and 2.6 W/mK
for the microwave sintered sample. A near uniform microstructure was observed
for both the conventional sintered and microwave sintered samples. The microwave
sintered samples were observed to have superior properties when compared one-onone with the conventional sintered counterpart. This study provides useful information specific to the development of a material for use as a thermal barrier coating and
for its selection and use in dental applications.
Keywords Microwave sintering (MW) · Conventional sintering (CS) ·
Alumina-toughened zirconia (ATZ) · Mechanical properties · Microstructure
analysis
K. L. Meena (B)
Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee,
Roorkee, Uttarkhand 247667, India
e-mail: kmeena@me.iitr.ac.in
T. S. Srivatsan
Department of Mechanical Engineering, The University of Akron, Akron, OH 44325, USA
© The Minerals, Metals & Materials Society 2021
T. S. Srivatsan et al. (eds.), Metal-Matrix Composites, The Minerals, Metals
& Materials Series, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-65249-4_11
163