ABSTRACT
The interfacial structures and interfacial bonding characteristics between graphene and matrix in graphene-reinforced Al2O3-WC matrix ceramic composite prepared by two-step hot pressing sintering were systematically investigated. Three interfacial structures including graphene-Al2O3, graphene-Al2OC and graphene-WC were determined in the Al2O3-WC-TiC-graphene composite by TEM. The interfacial adhesion energy and interfacial shear strength were calculated by first principles, and it has been found that the interfacial adhesion energy and interfacial shear strength of the graphene-Al2OC interface (0.287 eV/nm2, 59.32 MPa) were far lower than those of graphene-Al2O3 (0.967 eV/nm2, 395.77 MPa) and graphene-WC (0.781 eV/nm2, 229.84 MPa) interfaces. Thus, the composite with the strong and weak hybrid interfaces was successfully obtained, which was further confirmed by the microstructural analysis. This interfacial structure could induce strengthening mechanisms such as load transfer, grain refinement, etc., and toughening mechanisms such as crack bridging, graphene pull-out, etc., which effectively improved mechanical properties.
ABSTRACT
Graphene and nano-TiC, which have good reinforcing effects on Al2O3-based ceramic-tool materials, are generally used as additive phases for ceramics. In this study, nine kinds of samples were sintered, to investigate the effects of graphene and nano-TiC on the reinforcing mechanisms of Al2O3-based ceramics. The experimental results indicated that adding 0.5 vol% graphene and 10 vol% nano-TiC can obtain the optimum flexural strength, fracture toughness, and Vickers hardness, which were 705 ± 44 MPa, 7.4 ± 0.4 MPa m1/2, and 20.5 ± 0.8 GPa, respectively. Furthermore, the reinforcing mechanisms of crack bridging, pull-out of graphene, and pull-out of nano-TiC are identified, which are contributed to improving the mechanical properties of ceramics. Meanwhile, other reinforcing mechanisms induced by graphene (graphene break, crack guiding, and 3D propagation) and nano-TiC (crack branching, crack deflection, and peeling) are discussed. These reinforcing mechanisms are coupled together, while decoupling is hard to work out. Thus, further quantitative studies of reinforcing effects of graphene and nano-TiC on Al2O3-based ceramic-tool materials are necessary to be carried out.
