Abstract:
Al2O3/TiC/Mo/Ni micro-nano-ceramic composite with 3 vol.%-5 vol.% of nano-sized TiC particles was fabricated by hot-pressed sintering in vacuum. The mechanical properties, relative density, microstructure and three-point-bending fracture surface morphology of the composite were studied. Results show that there was a non-typical structure of gray core/white rim in the microstructure of the composite. The composite fractured as a mixing mode of intergranular fracture and transgranular fracture. As the added nano-sized TiC particles dispersed in the boundaries or inside of the grains of the Al2O3 matrix, intragranular and intergranular structures formed, grains were refined, and the grain boundaries were strengthened, thus the strength and relative density of the composite improved. The bending strength, fracture toughness, Vichers hardness and relative density were 970 MPa, 5.5 MPa·m1/2, 20.5 GPa and 99.5%, respectively.