Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Infiltrated Zirconia-Mullite Composite

침투된 지르코니아-뮬라이트 복합체의 미세구조 및 기계적 성질

Y-TZP/mullite composites were prepared by the infiltration of Y-TZP precursor into partially reaction-sintered mullite. The addition of Y-TZP(~7.2 wt%) increased the bend strength(207 MPa), fracture toughness(4.6MPa.m1/2) and Vickers microhardness(853kg/$\textrm{mm}^2$) of the uninfiltrated mullite sintered at 162$0^{\circ}C$ for 10h by more than 75, 70 and 105%, respectively. Residual alumina-rich glass was observed at a mullite/mullite junction, due to the mullitization reaction of silica melt with crystalline $\alpha$-Al2O3 during a final sintering. Although ZrO2 inclusions improved the final sintered density of mullite they did not effectively prevent its grain growth.