Abstract
ABSTRACT This article investigates the effect of ceramic powder bath heat-treatment on the sintering of α-alumina (α-Al2O3) for potential ceramic tool application. Three different ceramic sintering mediums were used i.e., (i) Pure alumina powder bath, (ii) Pure graphite powder bath, and (iii) Alumina Graphite Powder Bath (AGPB). The hardness and microstructural analysis were carried out using Vickers hardness, Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM), and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). The experimental results revealed that the novel Alumina Graphite Powder Bath (AGPB) sintering mechanism proposed in this research provided better hardness and microstructure as compared to the rest. The heating mechanism of alumina and graphite powder mixture was compared with published Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) results. The Alumina Graphite Powder Bath (AGPB) sintering method improved the mean hardness and relative density by 23% and 13%, respectively. Further, an orderly crystalline corundum microstructure with closed porosity was revealed from Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) micrographs. The conversion of convection-radiation to conduction mode of heat transfer in Alumina Graphite Powder Bath (AGPB) sintering technique was the reason behind this property enhancement.
Published Version
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
