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Ceramics, Volume 5, Issue 2 (June 2022) – 5 articles

Cover Story (view full-size image): In both metal matrix composites (MMCs) and ceramic matrix composites (CMCs), a ceramic phase is added as a reinforcement to a metallic or ceramic base material, whereas in cermets, in most cases, the metallic phase functions as a binder to improve toughness alongside ceramic-like properties. Ceramic materials, in general, possess high-temperature resistance and hardness, while metals can deform plastically; therefore, a cermet design aims to achieve the combined optimum properties of both ceramics and metals. Because of these combined properties, cermet materials are used in various applications, including machining and cutting tools, extrusion dies, wear-resistant coatings, and high-temperature applications. View this paper

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16 pages, 11373 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Investigation of the Microstructure of Fine-Grained YPO₄:Gd Ceramics with Xenotime Structure after Xe Irradiation

by Dmitriy A. Mikhaylov, Ekaterina A. Potanina, Aleksey V. Nokhrin, Albina I. Orlova, Pavel A. Yunin, Nikita V. Sakharov, Maksim S. Boldin, Oleg A. Belkin, Vladimir A. Skuratov, Askar T. Issatov, Vladimir N. Chuvil’deev and Nataliya Y. Tabachkova

Ceramics 2022, 5(2), 237-252; https://doi.org/10.3390/ceramics5020019 - 13 Jun 2022

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2672

Abstract

This paper reports on the preparation of xenotime-structured ceramics using the Spark Plasma Sintering (SPS) method. Y_0.95Gd_0.05PO₄ (YPO₄:Gd) phosphates were obtained using the sol-gel method. The synthesized powders were nanodispersed and were agglomerated (the agglomerates sizes were 10–50 µm). The ceramics had a fine-grained microstructure and a high relative density (98.67 ± 0.18%). The total time of the SPS process was approximately 18 min. The sintered high-density YPO₄:Gd ceramics with a xenotime structure were irradiated with ¹³²Xe⁺²⁶ ions with 167 MeV of energy and fluences in the range of 1 × 10¹²–3 × 10¹³ cm⁻². Complete amorphization was not achieved even at the maximum fluence. The calculated value of the critical fluence was (9.2 ± 0.1) × 10¹⁴ cm⁻². According to the results of grazing incidence X-ray diffraction (GIXRD), the volume fraction of the amorphous structure increased from 20 to 70% with increasing fluence from 1 × 10¹² up to 3 × 10¹³ cm⁻². The intensity of the 200 YPO₄:Gd XRD peak reached ~80% of the initial intensity after recovery annealing (700 °C, 18 h). Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Zirconolite Ceramic and Glass-Ceramic Wasteforms)

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27 pages, 3695 KiB

Open AccessReview

Cermet Systems: Synthesis, Properties, and Applications

by Subin Antony Jose, Merbin John and Pradeep L. Menezes

Ceramics 2022, 5(2), 210-236; https://doi.org/10.3390/ceramics5020018 - 7 Jun 2022

Cited by 22 | Viewed by 14263

Abstract

Cermet is an advanced class of material consisting of a hard ceramic phase along with a metallic binding phase with the combined advantages of both the ceramic and the metal phase. The superior properties of this class of materials are particularly useful in high-temperature, tribological, and machining applications. This review paper seeks to provide a comprehensive overview of the various cermet systems. More specifically, the most commonly used cermet systems based on tungsten carbide (WC), titanium carbide (TiC), titanium carbonitride (TiCN), and aluminum oxide (Al₂O₃) are discussed based on their development, properties, and applications. The effect of different metallic binders and their composition on the tribological and mechanical properties of these cermet systems is elaborated. The most common processing techniques for cermet systems, such as powder metallurgy (PM), reaction synthesis (RS), thermal spray (TS), cold spray (CS), and laser-based additive manufacturing techniques are discussed. The influence of the processing parameters in each case is evaluated. Finally, the applications and challenges of cermet systems are summarized. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Ceramics)

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9 pages, 2954 KiB

Open AccessReview

Synthesis of Submicron, Nanostructured Spherical Powders of Y₃Al₅O₁₂-Phases by the Method by Ultrasonic Spray Pyrolysis and Investigation of Their Structure and Properties

by Rainer Gadow, Valery I. Antipov, Alexey G. Kolmakov, Leonid V. Vinogradov, Maxim D. Larionov and Yuliya E. Mukhina

Ceramics 2022, 5(2), 201-209; https://doi.org/10.3390/ceramics5020017 - 23 May 2022

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2304

Abstract

The results of laboratory studies of the submicron Y₃Al₅O₁₂ (YAG) phase powders synthesized by ultrasonic spray pyrolysis are presented. A structural-phase analysis of aerosol powders was carried out and an assessment of the tendency of the synthesized powders to sintering was made. The working solution for the aerosol was prepared on the basis of distilled water with aluminum nitrate hexahydrate Al(NO₃)₃ x 6H₂O and yttrium nitrate hexahydrate Y(NO₃)₃ x 6H₂O dissolved in specified proportions. Spherical submicron nonagglomerated powders of Y₃Al₅O₁₂–phase with a small YAlO₃-phase content were synthesized by this method. Powder granules with a diameter of 0.75 microns had a nano-fragmentary polycrystalline structure with an average crystal size of 16 nm. During the sintering of powders with such a unique structure, diffusion mass transfer processes are activated, which contributes to a more efficient compaction of the material. Aerosol powder sintering experiments have shown that the best results are achieved when the process is carried out at 1700 °C for 6 h. As a result, a dense YAG-ceramic material was obtained, the structure of which does not contain residual pores and is characterized by a uniform distribution of equiaxed grains. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Ceramics)

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19 pages, 8110 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Highlighting of LaF₃ Reactivity with SiO₂ and GeO₂ at High Temperature

by Hussein Fneich, Manuel Vermillac, Daniel R. Neuville, Wilfried Blanc and Ahmad Mehdi

Ceramics 2022, 5(2), 182-200; https://doi.org/10.3390/ceramics5020016 - 6 May 2022

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2877

Abstract

LaF₃ is commonly added to oxide glass, in particular to silica, to form oxyfluoride glass. After appropriate thermal treatment at a temperature lower than 800 °C, usually, glass ceramics are obtained. Recently, LaF₃ nanoparticles have been used as precursors to obtain amorphous nanoparticles of undefined composition in optical fiber. However, fiber fabrication necessitates temperature much higher (typically up to 2000 °C) than the one required for bulk glass. In this article, we report on the reactivity of fluoride ions in LaF₃ with SiO₂ and GeO₂ (a common dopant used to dope optical fiber) powders at high temperature. TGA, EDX-SEM, XRD and Raman analyses were performed. Above 1000 °C, LaF₃ starts to react, preferentially with SiO₂, to form SiF₄ gaseous species. The remaining lanthanum ions form La₂Si₂O₇ and La₂Ge₂O₇ phases. These results could contribute to improve material development for the fiber optics community. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Ceramics)

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9 pages, 4478 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Microstructure, Thermal and Mechanical Properties of Refractory Linings Modified with Polymer Fibers

by Marcin Prochwicz, Paweł Czaja, Jerzy Morgiel, Tomasz Czeppe and Anna Góral

Ceramics 2022, 5(2), 173-181; https://doi.org/10.3390/ceramics5020015 - 8 Apr 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 3124

Abstract

The reduction in the inherent brittleness of coatings applied on parts of ceramic shielding used for continuous steel casting (CSC) processes is highly desired, since it can significantly diminish losses occurring during post-application handling and mounting. One of such coatings, prepared mostly from fused silica, ludox, tabular alumina, chamotte, cenospheres, dextrine and aluminum powder, is known commercially as Thermacoat™. The present experiment is focused on the effect of the modification of its composition by rising the content of the cenospheres (max. 2.5 wt.%) or by introducing up to 1.5 wt.% of polymer Belmix™ fibers (~34 μm diameter/12 mm length) on the microstructure and mechanical properties. The maximum amount of introduced additions was limited by the accompanying loss of mass viscosity, which must allow for deposition through immersion. Next, the differential scanning calorimetry and differential thermogravimetric analysis techniques were employed to evaluate the extent of the weight change and heat response of the mass during the drying and annealing stages. The dried materials’ microstructure was investigated with light and scanning electron microscopy, while the chemical composition was studied by energy dispersive spectroscopy. Finally, a three-point flexural bending method was used to determine changes in the material mechanical properties. The performed experiments proved that the small addition (~1 wt.%) of polymer fibers is sufficient for the significant improvement of the Thermacoat™ green mechanical strength at ambient temperature, presenting a reproducible ultimate flexural strength of ~0.2 MPa. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Ceramics)

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