Mechanical properties of MgO–Al2O3–SiO2 glass-infiltrated Al2O3–ZrO2 composite

This work attempts to improve the mechanical properties of alumina-10 wt% zirconia (3 mol% yttria stabilized) composite by infiltrating a glass (magnesium aluminum silicate glass) of lower thermal expansion on the surface at high temperature. The glass improved the strength of the composite at room temperature as well as at higher temperatures. There was a significant improvement in the Weibull modulus after the glass infiltration. Glass-infiltrated samples showed better thermal shock resistance. The magnitude of strength increment was found to be in the order of the surface residual stress generated by thermo-elastic properties mismatch between the composite and the infiltrated glass.