Sintering and Crystallization of Al2O3-La2O3-ZrO2 Eutectic Glass

Abstract

High hardness nanoceramics with a Al2O3-La2O3-ZrO2 eutectic composition were fabricated by sintering and crystallization of glass microspheres. Glass microspheres prepared by the flame spraying-water quenching technique were hot pressing sintered and converted to nanoceramics by controlled crystallization. The sintering densification mechanism of the glass microspheres and the effect of crystallization temperature on microstructure and mechanical properties of the prepared nanoceramics were investigated. The phases of the nanoceramics composed of LaAlO3, ZrO2 and LaAl11O18 at crystallization temperature above 1100°C. It was found that the nanoceramic obtained at 1300°C have a maximum hardness of 18.4 GPa, fracture toughness of 3.3 MPa m1/2.