Effect of Yb2O3 and Tm2O3 on the wear resistance of high-alumina ceramics

Abstract

The excellent wear resistance of grinding medium is the key to obtain high purity ultra-fine powders and prepare high-performance ceramics. The purpose of this work is to reveal mechanisms that rare earth oxides improve or reduce the wear resistance of alumina ceramic in the Al2O3-RE2O3–SiO2–CaO–MgO systems. The relationship between the wear rate and bulk density, phase composition, microstructure, thermal expansion behavior of the crystal phase and glass phase is discussed. The results show that a trace amount of Yb2O3 can improve wear resistance of the alumina ceramic, but the effect of Tm2O3 is the opposite. The influence of rare earth on the thermal expansion behavior of the phases is essential for the grain refinement and wear resistance of alumina ceramics.