Functionally graded materials based on alumina and zirconia

• Grant number: 13/17473-9
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: October 01, 2013
• End date: March 31, 2014
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Materials and Metallurgical Engineering - Nonmetallic Materials
• Principal Investigator: Vera Lucia Arantes
• Grantee: Felipe Pires de Campos Gusman
• Host Institution: Escola de Engenharia de São Carlos (EESC). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Carlos , SP, Brazil

Abstract

In last recent years, the interest in functional gradient materials has increase owing to the possibility of obtaining parts with variable properties across one or more dimensions, which present graded microstructure. This fact results in an improvement at the performance depending on the request imposed on the material. This research project aims to study composites combining alumina (Al2O3) and zirconia (ZrO2), where the latter is employed due to martensitic transformation responsible for increasing fracture toughness of the composite. It will be study the thermal behavior of different compositions obtained by high energy milling and isostatic pressing. Thus it is expected to know the thermal behavior of compositions with varying amounts of ZrO2 during sintering by means of dilatometric tests and differential scanning calorimetry. From the results, it is expected to optimize the gradient composition. Finally, properties of FGMs will be analyse. Tests will be performed to characterize the FGMs: X-ray diffraction, scanning electronic microscopy and mechanical resistance tests.