Abstract
The surface modificaion of alumina by $Al_2$O$_3$/SiC nanocomposite coating was studied in terms of processing and microstructure. A powder slurry of 5 vol% SiC composition was dipcoated onto presintered alumina bodies and pressurelessly sintered at 1$700^{\circ}C$ for 2 h in $N_2$. The used of organic binder and plasticizer in the slurry preparation, and the control of the density of presintered alumina body were found to be necessary to avoid cracking and warping during processing. The nanocomposite coating well bonded to the alumina body with thickness about 110 ${\mu}{\textrm}{m}$. The average grain size of coating (2 ${\mu}{\textrm}{m}$) was much finer than that of alumina body (13 ${\mu}{\textrm}{m}$). Fracture surface observations revealed mostly transgranular fracture for the coating, whereas intergranular fracture for the alumina body. Some pores (about 6%) were observed in the coating layer, although the alumina body showed fully dense microstructure.