Functionally graded ZrO_2-WC composites processed by electrophoretic deposition

摘要

This paper reports on the processing of homogeneous as well as graded ZrO_2-WC composites by means of electrophoretic deposition. The EPD characteristics of the constituent powders, such as the point of zero charge, the natural pH and the electrophoretic mobility are experimentally determined and reported. The EPD processing parameters are described and the mechanical properties of the densified homogeneous and FGM composites are reported and evaluated. Moreover, the deposition yield in the FGM material is described as a function of time and starting composition of the suspensions, resulting in a model of the EPD process that allows to predict the composition gradient in the sintered material. The presented model enables to calculate the composition gradient in the ZrO_2-WC FGM material from the starting composition of the suspensions, the EPD operating parameters and the powder-specific EPD characteristics.