Effect of TiO_2 and MgO on Microstructure of α-Alumina Ceramics and Its Sintering Behavior

摘要

Observation on the effect of adding titanium oxide (TiO_2) and magnesium oxide (MgO) on the sintering of a-alumina (Al_2O_3) has been performed. In this study, technical alumina used as basic material in which the sample is formed by the pressureless sintering/cold press and sintered at 1500°C which is lower than alumina sintering temperature at 1700°C. Elemental analysis, observation of microstructure, hardness, fracture toughness and density measurements were carried out to determine the physical and mechanical properties of alumina. The results indicate a change in the microstructure where the content of the platelet structure are much more than the equilateral structure. At sintering temperature of 1500°C, neck growth occurs at ceramics grain, supported by the results of the density test which indicate perfect compaction has occurred in this process.