Mechanical behavior and microstructure of porous needle: Aluminum borate (Al18B4O33) and Al2O3-Al18B4O33 composites

Single Al18B4O33 phase porous materials presented higher mechanical strengths than the composite materials. Within the respective microstructural configurations the whisker thickness did not affect significantly the mechanical behavior and parameters. A well-defined fragile behavior was observed and described in the composite material. On the other hand the single Al18B4O33 needle porous material presented a distinctive behavior with local discontinuities without loss of integrity in the diametral stress behavior, and achieved strength up to 50% higher than the corresponding composite.