Our website is currently undergoing maintenance. Article records and full texts remain available. Submissions can be made through the Editorial Manager.

Effect of SrO Precursors on the Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Zirconia-Toughened Alumina (ZTA) Composites

Jing Zhou, Shuhao Jiang, Shuhao Jiang, Jinping Yang, Teng Ma, Jian Zhang

Journal of Ceramic Science and Technology, Vol. 17, No. 1 (2026), pp. 53-62

DOI: 10.4416/JCST2025-00009

Download full article (PDF)

Abstract

In this study, ZTA (3Y-TZP/Al2O3) ceramic composites with added SrO sintering aid from SrCO3 and Sr(NO3)2 precursors were prepared by means of pressureless sintering and hot isostatic pressing sintering (HIPing). The microstructure and mechanical properties of the ZTA ceramic composites with added SrCO3 and Sr(NO3)2 were examined, respectively. It was found that SrO incorporation inhibited grain growth and induced the in situ formation of SrAl12O19 platelets. As the SrO content increased, the fracture toughness of the ceramic composites improved; additionally, the hardness and flexural strength initially increased and then decreased. Compared to ZTA ceramics with SrCO3 addition, the samples with Sr(NO3)2 had finer grains with a more uniform platelet distribution. ZTA ceramic composites with the addition of Sr(NO3)2 exhibited a maximum hardness, four-point flexural strength, and fracture toughness of 18.46 GPa, 887 MPa, and 6.97 MPa·m1/2, respectively.

Keywords

Ceramic composites, strontium hexaluminate, platelet, in-situ formation, mechanical properties

View this issue · Article & DOI index