Influence of Sintering Routes on the Structure and Indentation Hardness of Nano α-Al2O3 Particles
Mohammad Sharear Kabir1, Tamzid Ibn Minhaj2, Ehsan Ahmed Ashrafi3, Md. Maruf Hossain4
1Mohammad Sharear Kabir, Department of Materials and Metallurgical Engineering, Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology, Dhaka, Bangladesh.
2Tamzid Ibn Minhaj, Department of Materials and Metallurgical Engineering, Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology, Dhaka, Bangladesh.
3Ehsan Ahmed Ashrafi, Department of Materials and Metallurgical Engineering, Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology, Dhaka, Bangladesh.
4Md. Maruf Hossain, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology, Dhaka, Bangladesh.
Manuscript received on August 10, 2014. | Revised Manuscript Received on August 12, 2014. | Manuscript published on August 18, 2014. | PP: 26-30 | Volume-1 Issue-9, August 2014.
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© The Authors. Published By: Blue Eyes Intelligence Engineering and Sciences Publication (BEIESP). This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/)
Abstract: In this study, the influence of single stage and double stage sintering routes on the microstructure and indentation hardness of nanoscale α-Al2O3 particles have been investigated. The nanoscale alumina particles were compacted by Uniaxial pressing technique. Sintered nanoscale α-Al2O3 particles have been shown to have excellent mechanical properties to be used in the manufacture of nanotubes and nanowires. Among the sintering routes, α-Al2O3 ceramic particles sintered by double stage sintering route showed comparatively higher resistance to indentation than single stage sintering route. The densification achieved by double stage sintering route is higher than single stage sintering route. Based on scanning electron microscope images, the microstructure of samples sintered by double stage sintering route contained less porosity than conventional/ single stage sintering route. The increase in hardness achieved by double stage sintering route can be attributed to higher densification and suppressed grain growth during final stage sintering.
Keywords: α-Al2O3, Uniaxial pressing, indentation hardness, double stage sintering route, single stage sintering route.