Relationships between phase constitution and mechanical behaviour in MgO–CaZrO3–calcium silicate materials

Two MgO–CaZrO3 based three component materials, dense (>97% of theoretical) and fine grained (≈1–4 μm) were obtained by reaction sintering of MgCa(CO3)2/ZrSiO4 mixtures. The materials differentiated in the ternary phase, β-Ca2SiO4 or Ca3Mg(SiO4)2, according to the stoichiometry of the starting mixture. The reaction sintering process is studied in terms of density, microstructure and phase constitution. The thermal expansion and mechanical behaviour (Youngʹs modulus, toughness and strength) of the obtained composites is described and correlated to the microstructure and the thermal expansion mismatch of the constituent phases.