Sintering of Al2O3–SiC composite from sol–gel method with MgO, TiO2 and Y2O3 addition

Al2O3–SiC composite ceramics were prepared by pressureless sintering with and without the addition of MgO, TiO2 and Y2O3 as sintering aids. The effects of these compositional variables on final density and hardness were investigated. In the present article at first α-Al2O3 and β-SiC nano powders have been synthesized by sol–gel method separately by using AlCl3, TEOS and saccharose as precursors. Pressureless sintering was carried out in nitrogen atmosphere at 1600 °C and 1630 °C. The addition of 5 vol.% SiC to Al2O3 hindered densification. In contrast, the addition of nano MgO and nano TiO2 to Al2O3–5 vol.% SiC composites improved densification but Y2O3 did not have positive effect on sintering. Maximum density (97%) was achieved at 1630 °C. Vickers hardness was 17.7 GPa after sintering at 1630 °C. SEM revealed that the SiC particles were well distributed throughout the composite microstructures. The precursors and the resultant powders were characterized by XRD, STA and SEM.