Reaction-forming of mullite ceramics using an aqueous milling medium

摘要

Mullite and mullite/ZrO_2 ceramics were fabricated starting from Si/Al_2O_3 and Si/Al_2O_3/ZrO_2 powder mixtures, which were mixed and attrition milled with TZP balls in water. Isopressed powder compacts were subjected to a heat treat- Ment in air, during which the Si was oxidized to SiO_2. At -1410 deg C, reaction between Al_2O_3 and SiO_2 occurred, resulting in mullite (3Al_2O_3.2SiO_2). Depending on the com- position of the starting powders, the end product was either single-phase mullite or a mullite composite.