LIU Yongfeng, LIU Kaiqi

(Department of Advanced Ceramics and Refractories, Central Iron and Steel Research Institute, Beijing 100081 )

Abstract: The Al₂O₃-Mo cermets were prepared by the powder metallurgy method in this paper, and then the influence of ZrO₂ on bending strength of Al₂O₃-Mo cermets was studied through the analysis of microstructure and energy spectrum. The results show that: ZrO₂ addition made clear influence on bending strength of Al₂O₃-Mo cermets. The bending strength of Al₂O₃-Mo cermets with 2vol%ZrO₂ is 1.5 times higher than that of the cermets without ZrO₂ addition and the bending strength of Al2O3-Mo cermets with 10vol% ZrO₂ addition is two times higher. Mainly by phase transformation toughening and microcrack toughening, the metal ceramics were toughened by ZrO₂.

Keywords: ZrO₂, Al₂O₃-Mo, cermets, bending strength, toughening