Effect of LZSA Glass-Ceramic Addition on Pressureless Sintered Alumina. Part II: Mechanical Behavior

This work aims to evaluate the influence of a Li2O-ZrO2-SiO2-Al2O3 (LZSA) glass-ceramic on the mechanical behavior of alumina. Composites were prepared from alumina with three different particle sizes and 7 to 21 vol% of an LZSA glass-ceramic composition (11.6Li2O-16.8ZrO2-68.2SiO2-3.4Al2O3,). Specimens were obtained by uniaxial pressing. The optimum sintering temperature and holding time were found to be different for each composite. Structural characterization (bulk density and crystalline phases); mechanical characterization (flexure strength, elastic modulus, fracture toughness, and fracture energy); and microstructural analyses were carried out. Fine-grained alumina-based composite containing 21 vol% of glass-ceramic (1470 ºC and 3 h holding time, 2.0% porosity) showed a fracture toughness of 4.93 MPa·m0.5, an elastic modulus of 210 GPa, a fracture energy of 57 J·m-2, and a flexural strength of 170 MPa, in very good agreement with values reported by the literature. An increase of 37-177% in the fracture energy due to 21 vol% LZSA addition in the alumina was achieved for the range of grain size obtained in this work. Even though the final composition included a glassy component, the observed mechanical properties confirmed the effectiveness of the crystalline phases that were formed from LZSA glass-ceramic in reducing the propagation of cracks. The results showed that the addition of the LZSA glass-ceramic improved the mechanical properties of alumina.