Effect of Sintering Process on Microstructure of Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub>/LiTaO<sub>3</sub> Composite Ceramics

Abstract

Effects of different sintering methods such as pressureless sintering and hot press sintering on relative density and microstructure of the Al2O3p/LiTaO3 (ALT) composite ceramics were investigated to obtain a preferable sintering process. Relative densities of all ALT composites are below 90% when sintered with the cold isostatical pressing followed by pressureless sintering at temperatures of 1250 to 1350°C. The relative densities and microstructure of ALT composite ceramics with the hot press sintering process in a N2 atmosphere at 1150 and 1300°C were investigated. The relative density of ALT composite hot pressed at 1150°C is only 77%, and almost theoretical density at 1300°C. This indicates that sintering pressure plays an important role in the densification of ALT composite ceramics in temperature range of 1150 to 1350°C. Investigation on morphologies of the composites shows that the Al2O3 particles distributed along grain boundaries of LiTaO3, which leads to a fine-grained microstructure in the ALT composite ceramics