ZRO2-AL2O3 CERAMIC COMPOSITE MATERIAL AND METHOD FOR THE PRODUCTION THEREOF

摘要

A ZrOSUB2/SUB-AlSUB2/SUBOSUB3 /SUBcomposite ceramic material having excellent wear resistance, hardness, strength and toughness is provided. This ceramic material comprises a ZrOSUB2 /SUBphase composed of 90 vol % or more of tetragonal ZrOSUB2/SUB, and preferably containing 10 to 12 mol % of CeOSUB2 /SUBas a stabilizer, and an AlSUB2/SUBOSUB3 /SUBphase. An amount of the AlSUB2/SUBOSUB3 /SUBphase in the ceramic material is in a range of 20 to 70 vol %. The ceramic material comprises composite particles dispersed therein, each of which has a triple nanocomposite structure that an AlSUB2/SUBOSUB3 /SUBgrain containing a fine ZrOSUB2 /SUBgrain therein is trapped within a ZrOSUB2 /SUBgrain.