• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.2 no.3
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• pp.172-179
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• 1992

$Al_2O_3/ZrO_2$ composites were fabricated by pressureless sintering from commercial powders and/or nano composite powder of $Al_2O_3/ZrO_2$. The Properties of the composites such as density, strength, hardness and fracture toughness were evaluated. Microstructures and fracture surfaces ware also examined. The flexural strength remains unchanged(~640 MPa) as long as the content of commercial powders is not extreamly high, and depends on microstructures of the composites. Fracture toughness(4.3-5.3 $Mpa{\cdot}m^{1/2}$) increases with increasing content of commercial powders. Fractography shows that failure-initiating sources are 1)surface flaws resulting from machining damage, 2)crack-shaped voids formed due to $ZrO_2$ agglomeration, and 3)surface separation caused by inhomogeneous blending and by sinterability difference between nato composite powder and commercial powders of $Al_2O_3/ZrO_2$. Failure mode of the composites was mainly transgranular.

• Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society
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• v.45 no.2
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• pp.105-111
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• 2008

Symmetric three layer composites have been prepared by freeze casting and then pressureless sintered at $l700-1800^{\circ}C$ in $N_2$ gas atmosphere. The relative sintered density of multilayer composites having microstructural characteristics of later intermediate-stage densification increased with sintering temperature and reached about 95% theoretical value at $1800^{\circ}C$. Although the indentation strength of the multilayer composites was generally reduced with increasing Vickers indentation load up to 294N, the damage resistance of multilayer composites was superior compared to monolithic layer 95AL/5SN material. The three-point bend strength of the layered materials remained at the values 266-298 MPa after indentation with a load of 49N, while that of the monolithic 95AL/5SN material was 219 MPa. The fracture toughness of the multilayer material was $5.4-6.6\;MPa\;m^{1/2}$.

• Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society
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• v.30 no.9
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• pp.731-739
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• 1993

R-curve measurements were performed on Al2O3(matrix)-ZrO2-SiC whisker composite and Al2O3-ZrO2, Al2O3-SiC whisker composites in the favor of comparing the effect of ZrO2 and SiC whisker, as a second phase, to Al2O3 matrix. Al2O3-SiC whisker and Al2O3-ZrO2-SiC whisker were fabricated by hot pressing at 1$700^{\circ}C$, 15MPa and Al2O3-ZrO2 by pressureless sintering at 1$600^{\circ}C$. A controlled flaw/strength technique was utilized to determine fracture resistance as a function of crack extension and R-curve behaviour was determined from the relationship which is KR=K0(Δa)m. R-curveresults were KR=6.173$\times$Δa0.031 for Al2O3-ZrO2, KR=18.796$\times$Δa0.172 for Al2O3-SiC whisker and KR=11.96$\times$Δa0.110 for Al2O3-ZrO2-SiC whisker composite. From the analysis of R-curve and expeirmental data above three composites, it is found that R-curve behaviour of Al2O3-ZrO2-SiC whisker composite was dominated initially by the strengthening effect of ZrO2 and after, some extended crack were influenced by the effect of SiC whisker. Analysis of SEM and X-ray data revealed that whisker bridging in the crack wake and whisker pull-out mechanisms were the main mechanism for the R-curve behaviour.

• Journal of the Korean Crystal Growth and Crystal Technology
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.139-146
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• 2012

Natural hydroxyapatite powder was obtained from the calcination of bovine bones and its porous compacts were fabricated by pressureless sintering at 1100 and $1200^{\circ}C$ for 1h. To evaluate and compare their biocompatibility with porosity, we investigated the support of osteoblast cells growth and cytotoxicity using the MG-63 cell line model in vitro. Sintered hydroxyapatite ceramics have a porous microstructure with a relative density of 65 % at $1100^{\circ}C$ and 82 % at $1200^{\circ}C$. Cells adherence to the surface of hydroxyapatite ceramics was observed in a day after the cell culture, and the spreading of cytoplasm around the nucleus was shown after 3 day cell culture. Most of cells were extended to the surface of hydroxyapatite through the wide area. Cell viability was nearly the same till 3 days culturing. But the rate of cell growth is higher in the specimen sintered at $1100^{\circ}C$ than that of $1200^{\circ}C$. It indicates that the porosity is an important factor to enhance the cell viability in the porous hydroxyapatite ceramics derived from bovine bones.