Fabrication and mechanical properties of [formula omitted] functionally graded material by electrophoretic deposition

Abstract

This study describes the synthesis of Al2O3/SiC/ZrO2 functionally graded material (FGM) in bio-implants (artificial joints) by electrophoretic deposition (EPD). A suitable suspension that was based on 2-butanone was applied for the EPD of Al2O3/SiC/ZrO2, and a pressureless sintering process was applied as a presintering. Hot isostatic pressing (HIP) was used to densify the deposit, with beneficial mechanical properties after 2 h at 1800 °C in Ar atmosphere. The maximum hardness in the outer layer (90 vol.% Al2O3+10 vol.% SiC) and maximum fracture toughness in the core layer (75 vol.% Al2O3+10 vol.% SiC + 15 vol.% ZrO2) composite were 20.8±0.3 GPa and 8±0.1MPam1/2, respectively.The results, when compared with results from Al2O3/ZrO2 FGM, showed that SiC increased the compressive stresses in the outer layers, while the inner layers were under a residual tensile stress.