Article ID | Journal | Published Year | Pages | File Type |
---|---|---|---|---|
1476272 | Journal of the European Ceramic Society | 2011 | 7 Pages |
Transparent nanoceramics are attracting more and more interests recently, while it is practically difficult to prepare by conventional sintering process because of undesirable grain growth. In this study a new method of amorphous sintering followed by controlled crystallization (ASCC) was developed, and transparent LaAlO3/t-ZrO2 nanoceramics were prepared as examples. Glass powders from Al2O3–La2O3–ZrO2 (ALZ) were synthesized, sintered, and then converted to nanoceramics by post-heat-treatment. The processes of hot pressing and controlled crystallization were investigated in detail. The heat-treatment performed at 1200 °C for 2 h produced a transparent LaAlO3/t-ZrO2 nanoceramic with an average grain size of 40 nm. Due to the nanoscale microstructure, the composite showed a transparency up to 55% at 800 nm (1 mm thick), Vickers hardness of 19.05 GPa, and fracture toughness of 2.64 MPa m1/2, respectively. It is expected to be a promising candidate for window materials.