Abstract
The microstructure and mechanical properties of fully dense yttrium-containing α’ + β’-sialon ceramics prepared by gas pressure sintering were studied. The typical microstructure of mixed α’+β’-sialon ceramics consists of needle-like grains of the β’-phase (the ratio of length to width is about 7) dispersed in a matrix of equi-axed α’-sialon grains (mean grain size is about 3 µm) with a small fraction of an yttrium-rich amorphous phase (atom ratio Y:Si:Al = 0.8: 1.0:0.5) at grain boundaries. Vickers hardness (HvO.5) and fracture toughness (KIC) were measured by using the indentation technique and the biaxial bending strength (σbi) was determined with the “ball-on-ring” test. The relationships between the composition, microstructure and mechanical properties are discussed.
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