Fabrication of a material with composition gradient for metal/ceramic assembly

This study presents a method and an apparatus for fabricating graded materials with powders. The application is about making some transition interlayer components when assembling metal to ceramic by brazing for example. The chosen applicative couple is inco600 with zirconia. The densification technique is hot isostatic pressing. After calibration of the equipment designed to make some bi-constituent powder gradients, a cylindrical component with a symmetrical axial gradient has been manufactured. Phase volume fraction composition determined through image analysis and micro-hardness study has demonstrated that the obtained composition and properties vary continuously along the gradient direction. The fabricated material also exhibits some cracks probably due to low sinterability of zirconia used (50 μm balls). Other tests should be done with a finer zirconia powder. This technique should then be employed to fabricate ceramic metal assemblies through the manufacture of intermediated graded parts between the metal and ceramic components.