Effect of Adding SiO2 and Al2O3 on Mechanical Properties of Zircon

Zircon has excellent thermal, chemical, and mechanical properties, but it is hard to make a dense sintered product because of dissociation during the sintering process. This study analyzes how the addition of $SiO_2$ and $Al_2O_3$ affects the mechanical properties of sintered zircon, particularly in regards to reducing the thermal dissociation and improving the mechanical properties of $ZrSiO_4$. Zircon specimens containing different amounts of $SiO_2$ and $Al_2O_3$ were prepared and sintered to observe how the mechanical properties of $ZrSiO_4$ changed according to the differing amount of $SiO_2$ and $Al_2O_3$. The $ZrSiO_4$ that was used for the starting material was ground by ball mill to an average particle size of 3 ${\mu}m$. The $SiO_2$ and $Al_2O_3$ that was used for additives were ground to an average particle size of 3 ${\mu}m$ and 0.5 ${\mu}m$, respectively. Adding $SiO_2$ resulted in transformation in the liquid phase at high temperatures, which had little effect on suppressing the thermal dissociation but enhanced the mechanical properties of $ZrSiO_4$. When $Al_2O_3$ was added, the mechanical properties of $ZrSiO_4$ decreased due to the formation of pores and abnormal grains in the microstructure of the sintered zircon.

SiO2와 Al2O3 첨가가 지르콘의 기계적 특성에 미치는 영향