Abstract
The mechanical and electrical properties of the hot-pressed and annealed $\beta-Sic$+39vol.%$ZrB_2$ electroconductive ceramic composites were investigated as a function of the liquid forming additives of $Al_2O_3+Y_2O_3(6:4wt%)$. In this microstructures, no reactions and elongated $\alpha$-SiC grains with equiaxed $ZrB_2$, gains were observed between $\beta-SiC$ and $ZrB_2$, and the relative density was over 97.6% of the theoretical density. Phase analysis of the composites by XRD revealedmostly of $\alpha$-SiC(6H, 4H), $ZrB_2$, and weakly $\beta-SiC$(15R) phase. The fracture toughness decreased with increasing $Al_2O_3+Y_2O_3$ contents and showed the highest of $6.37MPa.m^{\fraction ane-half}$ for composite added with 4wt% $Al_2O_3+Y_2O_3$ additives at room temperature. The electrical resistivity increased with increasing $Al_2O_3+Y_2O_3$contents and showed the lowest of $1.51\times10^{-4}\Omega.cm$ for composite added with $Al_2O_3+Y_2O_3$ additives at $25^{\circ}C$. This reason is the increasing tendency of pore formation according to amount of liquid forming additives $Al_2O_3+Y_2O_3$. The electrical resistivity of the composites was all positive temperature coefficient resistance(PTCR) against temperature up to $700^{\circ}C$.
