Crack Healing of Nano-Ni/Al2O3 Hybrid Materials via High-Temperature Oxidation
Crack-healing effectiveness was investigated on 5 vol% nano-Ni dispersed Al2O3hybrid materials. Influence of the Y or Si doping or SiC co-dispersion was also studied on the crack healing behavior. Cracks were introduced by a Vickers indentation to be a crack length of approximately 60 μm. Cracks of nano-Ni/Al2O3were completely disappeared, for example, by oxidation at 1200°C for 6 h in air, Y/Si doped one and SiC co-dispersed one have similar performance of crack disappearance. Bending strength of crack-disappeared samples showed about 550 MPa and was comparable or improved with that of as-sintered one. Mechanism of crack healing was considered as filling up of cracks by NiAl2O4oxidation product which is developed by outward diffusion of cations at grain boundary of Al2O3matrix. Nano-Ni/Al2O3with Y or Si doping or SiC co-dispersion are realized to have crack-healing effectiveness with improved high-temperature oxidation resistance.