Large-scale fine structural alumina matrix ceramic guideway materials improved by diopside and Fe2O3

Diopside and Fe2O3 were introduced in alumina matrix ceramic materials. Large-scale fine structural alumina matrix ceramic guideway materials were fabricated by the technology of pressureless sintering, during which liquid phase sintering took place and new phases such as 3Al2O3·2SiO2, CaO·Al2O3·2SiO2 and CaO·6Al2O3 were produced by the chemical reactions taking place among alumina and the additives. The hardness, the fracture toughness and the bending strength of the guideway products were tested. The influences of diopside and Fe2O3 additions were studied by microstructural observations and mechanical properties evaluations. Meanwhile, the expected improvement of mechanical properties compared with pure alumina was indeed observed. The fracture mechanism and porosity of large-scale fine structural alumina matrix ceramic guideway materials were analyzed.