Optimization of mechanical properties of Al2O3–SiC nanocomposite body

Abstract

Experimental procedure of Al2O3–SiC nanocomposite body with addition of small amount of MgO for hot-press sintering process is considered. For improving the densification behaviour and mechanical properties of this nanocomposite body, experimental variables such as sintering temperature, sintering duration, SiC vol%, and MgO amount were optimized. For optimization, many tests were conducted on the nanocomposite materials with different produce conditions to achieve the best physical and mechanical properties. Obviously, achieving the best condition for all the physical and mechanical properties at one time is unreachable matter; so concern is on the properties which are important at high-speed impacts. It was observed that specimen with 10 vol% SiC, 500 ppm MgO, sintering temperature of 1650 °C, sintering duration of 90 min, and sintering pressure of 30 MPa, had the optimum physical and mechanical properties.