Microstructure and thermal shock resistance of Al2O3 fiber/ZrO2 and SiC fiber/ZrO2 composites fabricated by hot pressing

摘要

Al2O3 chopped fiber/ZrO2 and SiC continuousfiber/ZrO2 composites were fabricated by hot pressing at 1550℃and 15Mpa in vacuum. The mechanical properties of thermallyshocked composites were measured at room temperature byfour-point bending. The addition of Al2O3 fibers into ZrO2matrix degraded the fracture strength, but improved significantlythe thermal shock resistance. In addition, the mechanicalproperties of SiC fiber/ZrO2 composites were much lower thanthose of monolithic ZrO2 because of the presence of microcrackson the surface. The SiC fiber/ZrO2 composites showed anexcellent thermal shock resistance.