Advances in Structural Ceramic Materials

A special issue of Ceramics (ISSN 2571-6131).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 July 2020) | Viewed by 27982

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
Institute for Manufacturing Technologies of Ceramic Components and Composites (IFKB), University of Stuttgart, 70569 Stuttgart, Germany
Interests: advanced oxide based structural ceramics; zirconia materials; ceramics processing; conventional and additive and manufacturing technologies
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Today, structural ceramics have become commodities in many fields of mechanical engineering, automotive, aerospace, and biomedical engineering. This is the result of more than 40 years of development and continuous improvement of high-performance materials, such as alumina, zirconia, silicon carbide, silicon nitride, and various composite ceramics. Traditionally, the main focus has been on improving mechanical or tribological properties at ambient and high temperatures to create reliable materials operating under harsh conditions, such as chemically aggressive or high-temperature environments. At present, many new structural ceramics also feature functional properties that are relevant for processing or final application.

This Special Issue aims at advances in structural ceramic materials from two perspectives. The first point of view is material science representing the development and characterization of new structural ceramic materials. The second one—which is equally important—is the engineering point of view, representing ceramics processing from powder technology to compounding, forming and shaping, and sintering and machining.

I would like to encourage scientists from both fields to contribute short communications, full articles, and reviews to this Special Issue. The topics to be addressed are, e.g.:

  • Oxide ceramics (alumina, zirconia, composites);
  • Non-oxide ceramics (silicon carbide, silicon nitride, composites);
  • Characterization (microstructure, mechanical properties at ambient and high temperature, fracture mechanics);
  • Processing of ceramics;
    • Powder technology;
    • Compounding of feedstocks;
    • Shaping of components (conventional and additive);
    • Sintering (conventional, pressure assisted, SPS);
    • Machining (green machining, final machining, non-conventional machining).

Prof. Dr. Frank Kern
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Ceramics is an international peer-reviewed open access quarterly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 1600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • Oxide ceramics
  • Non-oxide ceramics
  • Composite ceramics
  • Microstructure
  • Mechanical properties
  • Ceramics manufacturing
  • Sintering
  • Machining
  • Shaping

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Published Papers (7 papers)

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Research

13 pages, 5053 KiB  
Article
Microstructure and Interface Characteristics of 17-4PH/YSZ Components after Co-Sintering and Hydrothermal Corrosion
by Anne Günther, Tassilo Moritz and Uwe Mühle
Ceramics 2020, 3(2), 245-257; https://doi.org/10.3390/ceramics3020022 - 21 May 2020
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 3313
Abstract
Combining stainless steel with zirconia components by powder technological shaping routes for manufacturing of multifunctional parts is an advantageous and promising one-step method making expensive and time-consuming additional joining steps redundant. However, several requirements for co-shaping and co-sintering of the very different compound [...] Read more.
Combining stainless steel with zirconia components by powder technological shaping routes for manufacturing of multifunctional parts is an advantageous and promising one-step method making expensive and time-consuming additional joining steps redundant. However, several requirements for co-shaping and co-sintering of the very different compound partners have to be met. The microstructural and chemical constitution of the interface between both materials plays an important role for the mechanical properties, durability and corrosion resistance of the manufactured parts. In the present study, different shaping techniques for co-shaping of stainless steel and zirconia are introduced. The microstructure and the interphase properties of metal/ceramic hybrid parts have been investigated for samples made by tape casting, subsequent lamination and co-sintering. Nevertheless, the results of this study are valid for components made by other hybrid shaping processes as well. The interfaces were characterized by TEM, FESEM, EDX, and X-ray diffraction. Furthermore, the hydrothermal stability of the material compound was investigated. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Structural Ceramic Materials)
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10 pages, 4322 KiB  
Article
Preparation and Properties of Co-Doped Magnesium Lanthanum Hexaluminat Blue Ceramics
by Rui Guo, Qingchun Wang, Jinxiao Bao and Xiwen Song
Ceramics 2020, 3(2), 235-244; https://doi.org/10.3390/ceramics3020021 - 14 May 2020
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 3280
Abstract
The types of blue ceramics are monotonous, mainly alumina and zirconia ceramics, and their colors are not pure, with some green tones (−a* value is not close to 0). In this paper, aluminate blue ceramics (LaMgAl11−xCoxO19) doped [...] Read more.
The types of blue ceramics are monotonous, mainly alumina and zirconia ceramics, and their colors are not pure, with some green tones (−a* value is not close to 0). In this paper, aluminate blue ceramics (LaMgAl11−xCoxO19) doped with Co were prepared by the high temperature solid-phase reaction method, which enriched the blue ceramics system. The effect of Co content on the color of ceramics was studied, and the optimal doping amount of Co was found. X = 1.0 is the bluest color of the material (−b* = 35.36), and there is almost no noise effect (−a* = −2.71). By studying the effect of temperature on the system, it is found that the color effect is best when the temperature reaches 1450 °C. When the temperature exceeds 1450 °C, it can only promote the synthesis of LaMgAl11O19 phase, and has no effect on the color of ceramics samples. Based on the material’s pure and bright colors, and good color stability at room temperature, it has great potential in the decoration industry, such as the preparation of jewelry or building decoration materials. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Structural Ceramic Materials)
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11 pages, 10306 KiB  
Article
Mechanical Properties and Electrical Discharge Machinability of Alumina-10 vol% Zirconia-28 vol% Titanium Nitride Composites
by Andrea Gommeringer and Frank Kern
Ceramics 2020, 3(2), 199-209; https://doi.org/10.3390/ceramics3020018 - 18 Apr 2020
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 3842
Abstract
Electrical discharge machinable ceramics provide an alternative machining route independent on the material hardness which enables manufacturing of customized ceramic components. In this study a composite material based on an alumina/zirconia matrix and an electrically conductive titanium nitride dispersion was manufactured by hot [...] Read more.
Electrical discharge machinable ceramics provide an alternative machining route independent on the material hardness which enables manufacturing of customized ceramic components. In this study a composite material based on an alumina/zirconia matrix and an electrically conductive titanium nitride dispersion was manufactured by hot pressing and characterized with respect to microstructure, mechanical properties and ED-machinability by die sinking. The composites show a combination of high strength of 700 MPa, hardness of 17–18 GPa and moderate fracture resistance of 4.5–5 MPa√m. With 40 kS/m the electrical conductivity is sufficiently high to ensure ED-machinability. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Structural Ceramic Materials)
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9 pages, 1218 KiB  
Article
Properties of 2 mol% Yttria Stabilized Zirconia–Alumina–Cerium Hexaaluminate Composites
by Frank Kern
Ceramics 2020, 3(2), 190-198; https://doi.org/10.3390/ceramics3020017 - 16 Apr 2020
Cited by 10 | Viewed by 3570
Abstract
Yttria stabilized zirconia (Y-TZP) has become a standard material in a variety of biomedical and mechanical engineering applications due to its high strength and toughness. In order to obtain improved properties in terms of strength, hardness and low temperature degradation resistance second phases, [...] Read more.
Yttria stabilized zirconia (Y-TZP) has become a standard material in a variety of biomedical and mechanical engineering applications due to its high strength and toughness. In order to obtain improved properties in terms of strength, hardness and low temperature degradation resistance second phases, typically alumina are added. In this study an alumina toughened zirconia recipe with 20 vol% alumina in a 2Y-TZP matrix was modified by progressive substitution of alumina by up to 10 vol% cerium hexaaluminate (CA6). Samples were produced by hot pressing. The cerium hexaaluminate was synthesized in situ by reduction of tetravalent ceria and reaction sintering with alumina at 1450 °C. The materials reach attractive 4-point bending strength values of greater than 1170–1390 MPa at a fracture resistance of 6.4–7 MPa√m. Vickers hardness is slightly reduced from 1405 HV10 to 1380 HV10 with increasing CA6 fraction. Results show that substitution of alumina by low amounts CA6 does not lead to drastic changes in the mechanical properties. Hardness is slightly reduced while strength reaches a flat maximum at 4 vol% CA6 substitution. The toughness slightly declines with CA6 addition which is caused by reduced transformability of the tetragonal zirconia phase despite a slight coarsening of the matrix observed upon CA6 addition. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Structural Ceramic Materials)
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14 pages, 3348 KiB  
Article
Flexure Strength and Fracture Propagation in Zirconia Ceramic Composites with Exfoliated Graphene Nanoplatelets
by Ángela Gallardo-López, Javier Castillo-Seoane, Carmen Muñoz-Ferreiro, Cristina López-Pernía, Ana Morales-Rodríguez and Rosalía Poyato
Ceramics 2020, 3(1), 78-91; https://doi.org/10.3390/ceramics3010009 - 5 Mar 2020
Cited by 15 | Viewed by 4097
Abstract
In this work, the flexure strength and fracture propagation mechanisms in yttria tetragonal zirconia (3YTZP) dense composites with 1 and 5 vol.% exfoliated graphene nanoplatelets (e-GNP) were assessed. The composite powders were processed by dry planetary ball milling to exfoliate the as-received GNP, [...] Read more.
In this work, the flexure strength and fracture propagation mechanisms in yttria tetragonal zirconia (3YTZP) dense composites with 1 and 5 vol.% exfoliated graphene nanoplatelets (e-GNP) were assessed. The composite powders were processed by dry planetary ball milling to exfoliate the as-received GNP, and then densified by spark plasma sintering (SPS). The hardness and Young’s modulus were measured by Vickers indentation and the impulse-echo technique, respectively. Flexural strength and modulus were estimated by four-point bending tests. Finally, cracks originated by Vickers indentations were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The Raman spectra and SEM observations showed a reduction in the number of graphene layers and most remarkably in the lateral size of the e-GNP, achieving a very homogeneous distribution in the ceramic matrix. The hardness, elastic modulus, and flexural strength of the 3YTZP matrix did not vary significantly with the addition of 1 vol.% e-GNP, but they decreased when the content increased to 5 vol.%. The addition of e-GNP to 3YTZP increased its reliability under bending, and the small lateral size of the e-GNP produced isotropic fracture propagation. However, the energy dissipation mechanisms conventionally attributed to the larger GNP such as fracture deflection or blocking were limited. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Structural Ceramic Materials)
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12 pages, 2089 KiB  
Article
Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Zirconia (3Y-TZP)/Zr Composites Prepared by Wet Processing and Subsequent Spark Plasma Sintering
by Marcos Díaz, Anton Smirnov, C.F. Gutiérrez-González, Diana Estrada and José F. Bartolomé
Ceramics 2020, 3(1), 53-64; https://doi.org/10.3390/ceramics3010007 - 17 Feb 2020
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 4546
Abstract
ZrO2 (3Y-TZP) matrix composites with 30 vol % Zr metallic particles were obtained by spark plasma sintering (SPS) using a colloidal processing method. The microstructure and mechanical properties of this novel ceramic–metal composite have been studied. The fracture toughness of composites is [...] Read more.
ZrO2 (3Y-TZP) matrix composites with 30 vol % Zr metallic particles were obtained by spark plasma sintering (SPS) using a colloidal processing method. The microstructure and mechanical properties of this novel ceramic–metal composite have been studied. The fracture toughness of composites is slightly higher than the values corresponding to monolithic zirconia. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) observations of the crack path show that the major contributions to toughening are the resulting crack blunting and branching that occurs at crack tips in the metallic particles before the onset of crack propagation. Plastic deformation of the metallic particles is strongly influenced by the constraint induced by the different phase arrangements. This system can be considered as a particulate composite with a periodic residual stress field, in which the metal phase is under strong compression due to the residual thermal stresses as a consequence of the coefficient of thermal expansion mismatch. Therefore, the plastic deformation of the metallic particles in this composite is likely to be reduced to a large extent. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Structural Ceramic Materials)
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11 pages, 3442 KiB  
Article
Influence of Graphene and Graphene Oxide on Properties of Spark Plasma Sintered Si3N4 Ceramic Matrix
by Katalin Balazsi, Mónika Furkó, Piotr Klimczyk and Csaba Balázsi
Ceramics 2020, 3(1), 40-50; https://doi.org/10.3390/ceramics3010005 - 5 Feb 2020
Cited by 16 | Viewed by 3990
Abstract
The sintering of ceramic matrix composites is usually carried out by raising the sintering temperature below the melting point of components. Spark plasma sintering (SPS) has the capability to densify ceramics at a relatively low temperature in a very short time. Two different [...] Read more.
The sintering of ceramic matrix composites is usually carried out by raising the sintering temperature below the melting point of components. Spark plasma sintering (SPS) has the capability to densify ceramics at a relatively low temperature in a very short time. Two different additions, multilayered graphene (MLG) and graphene oxide (GrO), were added to Si3N4 ceramic matrix in various amount; 5 wt% and 30 wt%. The influence of reinforcing phase on final properties of spark plasma sintered Si3N4 composite was studied. The uniaxial-pressure-assisted SPS sintering resulted in a preferential alignment of both type of graphene in the Si3N4 ceramic matrix, leading to highly anisotropic properties with lower mechanical behavior but better tribological and electrical properties. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Structural Ceramic Materials)
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