In this study Al 2 O 3- SiC nanocomposites have been fabricated by mixing of alumina and silicon carbide nano powders, followed by hot pressing at 1700°C. The mechanical properties and fracture mode of Al 2 O 3- SiC nanocomposites containing different volume fractions (5, 10 and 15%) of nano scale SiC particles were investigated and compared with those of alumina. Al 2 O 3- SiC powders were prepared by planetary milling in isopropanol. Fracture mode of specimens was investigated by means of scanning electron microscopy. Nanocomposites were tougher than alumina when they were hot pressed at the same temperature, and the values of nanocomposite's flexural strength and hardness were higher than those of alumina. Flexural strength, hardness and fracture toughness of the nanocomposites increase by increasing the volume percent of SiC up to 10% and then decrease slightly. The Scanning electron microscopy observations showed that fracture mode changes from intergranular for alumina to transgranular for nanocomposites. Finally X-ray diffraction analysis couldn't detect any chemical reactions between Al 2 O 3 and SiC particles.
Carbothermal synthesis of micron‐sized, uniform, spherical silicon carbide (SiC) particles
