Study on the Multi-Scale Nanocomposite Ceramic Tool Material

Abstract

An advanced ceramic cutting tool material was developed by means of micro-scale SiC particle cooperating with nano-scale SiC particle dispersion. With the optimal dispersing and fabricating technology, this multi-scale nanocomposite may get both higher flexural strength and fracture toughness than that of the single-scale composite. The improved mechanical properties may be mainly attributed to the inter/intragranular microstructure with a lot of micro-scale SiC particles located on the grain boundary and a few nano-scale SiC particles located in the matrix grain. Because of the thermal expansion mismatch between SiC and Al2O3 resulting in the compressive stress on the SiC/Al2O3 interface, the interface bonding strength between Al2O3 and SiC was reinforced, which can compel the crack propagating into the relatively weak matrix when meeting the SiC particle on the boundary; while the alumina grain boundary is not the same strong as the SiC/Al2O3 interface and the Al2O3 grain, therefore the crack propagates sometimes along the Al2O3 grain boundaries and sometimes through the grains, when reaching to the nano-scale SiC particle inside the matrix, the crack was pinned and then deflected to the sub-grainboundaries. These coexisting transgranular and intergranular fracture mode induced by micro-scale and nano-scale SiC and the fining of matrix grain derived from the nano-scale SiC resulted in the remarkable strengthening and toughening effect.