INTRODUCTION TO CERAMICS (Engineering C1B)

Steve Roberts

Synopsis

Introduction to the class of ceramic materials: traditional ceramics, engineering
ceramics, glasses and ceramic composites.
Interatomic bonding and crystal structures found in ceramics.
Structure of glasses - random network model.
Classes of oxides in glassy networks: network formers, network modifiers,
intermediates.
Brittle nature of ceramics.
Fabrication of ceramics: powder synthesis, powder processing, sintering and reaction
sintering.
Fabrication of glasses and glass ceramics.
Microstructures, mechanical properties and applications of: traditional triaxial
porcelains, alumina, zirconia, silicon nitride, silicon carbide.


Reading List

Engineering Materials 2, M.F. Ashby and D.r.H. Jones, Chapters 15-20.
Introduction to Ceramics, W.D. Kingery, H.K. Bowen and D.R. Uhlmann.
Ceramic Science for Materials Technologists, I.J. McColm.
Ceramic Microstructures, W.E. Lee and W.M. Rainforth
Materials Science and Technology volume 11 - Structure and Properties of
Ceramics, edited by M.V. Swain
Mechanical Behaviour of Ceramics, R.W. Davidge
"An Introduction to the Mechanical Properties of Ceramics", D.J. Green


INTRODUCTION TO CERAMICS (Engineering C1B)

Steve Roberts
Hilary 2000

Questions

1) Explain why the yield strength of a ceramic can approach of a crystal, wheras the yield
strengths of engineering alloys are much lower than the ideal strength. How would you
attempt to measure the yield strength of a ceramic, given that the fracture strengths of
ceramics in tension are usually much lower than the yield strengths?

2) Why are ceramics usually much stronger in compression than in tension?
An Al
2
O
3
material has a fracture toughness K
Ic
of about 3 MPam
1/2
and a hardness of
13 GPa. A batch of samples of this material is found to contain surface flaws about 30m
deep. Estimate: (a) the tensile strength and (b) the compressive strength of this batch of
the alumina ceramic.

3) Describe the random network model of glass structure explaining the role of network
forming, modifying and intermediate oxides.

4) Describe the main mechanisms of mass redistribution which can occur during
sintering. Explain which mechanisms lead to an increase in component density.

5) A ceramic material is sintered in a nitrogen atmosphere (at normal atmospheric
pressure). In the sintering process, pores become isolated at a diameter of 5 m. The
ceramic has a surface energy of 0.28 Jm
-2
. What will be the equilibrium pore size (when
the gas pressure just balances the closure pressure due to surface tension)? If the original
pores are in a material with 15% porosity by volume, what will be the linear shrinkage of
the material from pore closure to when the pores reach equilibrium?

6) Sketch the microstructures you would expect to see in the following materials (indicate
the principal components and the scale of the microstructure). Explain in each case the
processing routes used to achieve these microstructures and components.
a) A porcelain used for fine tableware.
b) A high-toughness partially stabilised zirconia piston crown.
c) A reaction bonded SiC heat exchanger.

Numerical Answers:

2) 309 MPa tension, 4250 MPa compression.
4) Final pore diameter 3.34 m, linear shrinkage 3.64%.