Mechanical properties of Al2O3–TiC–TiN ceramic tool materials

Al2O3–TiC–TiN ceramic tool materials were fabricated by hot-pressing technique and the mechanical properties were measured. The effects of the micro-scale TiN content, sintering temperature and sintering duration time on the mechanical properties were investigated. The results showed that the addition of micro-scale TiN and the increment of sintering duration time could increase the fracture toughness of Al2O3–TiC–TiN ceramics. The Vickers hardness of Al2O3–TiC–TiN ceramic tool materials first increased and then decreased with the increment of the micro-scale TiN content. All the three mechanical properties first decreased and then increased and finally decreased with the increment of sintering temperature. Both the flexural strength and the fracture toughness first increased and then decreased with the increment of the sintering duration time. Two kinds of sintering process could be concerned to fabricate Al2O3–TiC–TiN ceramic tool materials with high comprehensive mechanical properties.