Volume 8, Issue 4, 1999

Synthesis of an aluminium -zirconia composite through powder metallurgy and sol-gel.

S. Jiménez ^1,2,3 R. Lima¹, and V. Castaño ^{1,3 *}

1.- Instituto de Física, UNAM., A.P. 1-1010, Querétaro, Qro. 76000 MEXICO,  2.-Harbison-Walker Refractories S.A. de C.V., Francisco Villa #95, Tlalnepantla, Edo. Mex. 54030 MEXICO  3.- Universidad Autónoma de Querétaro, Campus Cerro de las campanas Querétaro,  Qro. 76010 MEXICO

*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed e-mail: meneses@servidor.unam.mx

Abstract

A novel route to produce an aluminium-zirconia composite through the synthesis of an aluminium matrix obtained by powder metallurgy, which is infiltrated with a sol, containing Zr ions, is described. The tetramer chemical unit contained in the sol is a good precursor to obtain high purity zirconia tetragonal phase at temperatures at 350-550° C, whose phase is transformed to a monoclinic structure between 550 to 610° C. The microstructural characteristics, and the development of phases in the composite were studied by SEM and XRD. Also, the tribological properties of the materials are reported.