Abstract
The effects of ZrO2 additions on the mechanical properties of four commercial aluminas have been studied, and the changes in intergranular and intragranular ZrO2 particle sizes during aging have been determined for one of the aluminas. In this ceramic, the intercranular and intragranular ZrO2 particles coarsen obeying t1/2 and t1/3 kinetics, respectively. Changes in strength of the aluminas with additions of ZrO2 are shown to be related to changes in the Al2O3 matrix microstructure. Differences in toughness of the resulting composites are explained in terms of the different size and morphology of the intergranular ZrO2 particles and the operation of several toughening mechanisms, with transformation toughening a relatively minor contributor.
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