Unidirectional all-oxide mini-composites with crack-deflecting NdPO4 interface

Unidirectional Nextel 720™ fibers were coated with crack-deflecting NdPO4 interface using dip coating and infiltrated with silica-free alumina matrix using electrophoretic deposition followed by drying and pressureless sintering at 1200 °C in an attempt to manufacture oxide-based model ‘mini-composites’ which are less complex to produce in a short time and which therefore allow rapid results for mechanical and microstructural characterisation. This material is targeted for use at 1200 °C in an oxidising atmosphere and has shown an excellent tensile strength value of 1.2 GPa and flexural strengths of 894 MPa at room temperature and 761 MPa at 1300 °C in unidirectional form.