Nanosized particle reinforced ceramics improved mechanical properties, even at high temperatures, compared to monolithic ceramics. In this study, alumina with various amount of nanosize SiC were sintered by a hot pressing technique at 1600 ℃, 30 MPa...
Nanosized particle reinforced ceramics improved mechanical properties, even at high temperatures, compared to monolithic ceramics. In this study, alumina with various amount of nanosize SiC were sintered by a hot pressing technique at 1600 ℃, 30 MPa for 1 hour in Ar gas. Microstructures and mechanical properties were investigated. Moreover, tribological properties were compared with different load (5, 10, 40 and 80 N) in water. Relations of wear properties with mechanical properties (hardness, strength, and fracture toughness) and microstructures were studied. On the basis of experimental results it makes a conclusion that as increasing the amount of nano-sized SiC in alumina, nano-sized SiC retarded grain growth of alumina. Hardness and strength were improved up to 10 vol% of SiC. Improvement of sliding wear resistance was caused by increasing mechanical properties. Tribological behaviors of nanocomposites in water was seemed to be governed by abrasive wear.