Method to improve the fracture toughness and strength of ceramic materials

摘要

Ceramic articles having improved fracture tough­ness properties are prepared by a powder metallurgical process wherein ceramic particles having an average parti­cle size of between about 0.5 and about 60 micrometers in diameter, are injected with a beam of accelerated metallic ions to produce a supply of metallic ion-containing ceramic particles. The metallic ion-containing ceramic particles are cold compacted into a form by applying pressure there­about. The form is then heated at a temperature of at least about 800°c in an atmosphere comprising a gas such as oxygen, nitrogen, and mixtures thereof, whereby the gas reacts with such injected metal ions to produce a metal-gas reaction product which is dispersed throughout the form.