Carbon's role in producing PM-ceramic Composites

摘要

Research in France on stainless steel/alumina composites suggest that control of residual carbon at the binder removal stage in sintering can be critical... Composite materials constitute a classical method of combining different (and often opposite) properties in a single part. It is commonly used in powder technologies with two ceramics or metals, but more rarely between ceramic and metal. This rarity is linked to the wide difference in properties of the materials, such as thermal expansion or sintering rate, so sintering process must be carefully controlled in order to succeed. Alumina, like ceramics in general, exhibits good wear properties, but its uses are limited due to its brittleness. Experiments have been carried out by a French research team to improve the ductility and toughness of alumina through powder metallurgy by dispersing stainless steel powder in an alumina matrix.