• Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society
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• v.29 no.8
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• pp.587-592
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• 1992

Sheets of SiC-SiC whisker maxed matrix were prepared from the mixed slurry of SiC whisker and SiC matrix by the rolling method. With the increase of SiC whisker, the pore size, the porosity and the phosphoric acid absorbency of the matrix were increased, while the bubble pressure was decreased. The activation energy for the transfer of H+ ion was decreased with the increase of mixing ratio of SiC whisker to the SiC matrix from the measurement of hydrogen ion conductivity. The activation energy was evaluated as 0.25 eV when the mixing ratio of SiC whisker to the SiC matrix was 1 : 2 and the activation energy was 0.16 eV for the 2 : 1 matrix. It means that SiC whisker matrix contributes to attain a better microstructure for the diffusion of hydrogen ion. From the measurement of single cell performance of matrix with various mixing ratio, it is concluded that if SiC-SiC whisker maxed matrix has a sufficient bubble pressure to prevent the crossover of H2 gas, the current density of a fuel cell is increased with the increase of acid absorbency of the matrix. Current density was improved from 140 mA/$\textrm{cm}^2$ for 0.25 mm thickness of matrix to 170 mA/$\textrm{cm}^2$ for the 0.20 mm one at 700 mV.

• Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society
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• v.30 no.6
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• pp.492-498
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• 1993

The pretreatment condition for uniform distribution of SiC whisker in A2O3-SiCw composites has been determined and the mechanical properties of the composites with various whisker contents have been measured. Good dispersion of the whisker can be obtained in a solution of pH=10.45 by ball milling and ultrasonic treatment. The relative density of hot pressed composites decreases with the whisker content up to 40vol%, but is found to be satisfactory, over 98% for all samples. The mechanical property of the composites is sensitive to the whisker dispersion. Uniform distributjion of the whisker is critical in order to guarantee good mechanical property.The samples containing 20~30vol% whisker show the best mechanical property within the studied range.

• 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 Ceramic Society
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• v.28 no.12
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• pp.1012-1018
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• 1991

SiC whisker-reinforced LAS matrix composites were developed by a mixed colloidal processing route. An optimization of processing conditions was made using the zeta potential data of silica, boehmite, and SiC whisker dispersions. Similarly, the SiC whisker-reinforced composites were also fabricated by the conventional sol-gel process using the hydrolysis-condensation reaction of relevant metal alkoxides. The composites fabricated by the mixed colloidal processing route were characterized by a uniform spatial distribution of SiC whisker throughout the matrix. The fracture toughness increased from 1.3 MPa.m1/2 for the LAS specimen to 5.0 Mpa.m1/2 for the hot-pressed composite (95$0^{\circ}C$ and 20 MPa for 20 min) containing 20 wt% SiC whisker. The increase in fracture toughness appears to result mainly from the crack deflection and the crack bridging by whiskers with some additional toughenings from the whisker pullout and the matrix prestressing mechanisms.

• Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society
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• v.31 no.11
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• pp.1259-1264
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• 1994

$\beta$-Sialon has been regarded as one of promising materials showing high strength, fracture toughness, corrosion resistence and wear resistence. The improvement of the fracture toughness and tribological properties of $\beta$-Sialon (Z=1) has been attempeted by fabricating the $\beta$-Sialon/ SiC whisker composite. Each of green body composed of following ingredients, i.e., Si3N4, AlN, Y2O3 nd SiC, respectively, was first fired at 178$0^{\circ}C$ for 3hrs in N2 atmosphere and then post-HIPed at 173$0^{\circ}C$ for 1 hr under 170 MPa for N2 gas pressure. The fracture toughness, flexural strength and tribological properties increased with increasing SiC whisker content, despite the reduction of the relative density and hardness. $\beta$-Sialon/15 vol% SiC whisker showed a significant enhancement of wear resistance compared to the monolithic $\beta$-Sialon. The addition of SiC whisker caused the reduction of the density and hardness, but induced the increment of wear resistance.

• Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society
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• v.30 no.10
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• pp.785-790
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• 1993

Sialon ceramics are presently seen as promising materials with high hardness, strength, fracture toughness and corrosion resistance for friction and wear applications. The objective of present work is to improve of mechanical properties and wear resistance of $\alpha$-Sialon(x=0.4) by addition of SiC whisker. $\alpha$-sialon(x=0.4)/SiC whisker composites were obtained by hot-isostatic pressing at 173$0^{\circ}C$ for 1 hour under 1757Kg/$\textrm{cm}^2$ N2 pressure after pressureless sintering the mixture of Si3N4, Y2O3, AlN at 1780~180$0^{\circ}C$ for 3~5 hours in N2 atmosphere. As the amount of SiC whisker content increased, relative density and hardness were decreased, however fracture toughness, bending strength and tribological properties were improved. Tribological properties of $\alpha$-Sialon/15 vol% SiC whisker composite were improved in spite of its low mechanical properties.

• Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society
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• v.28 no.9
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• pp.696-704
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• 1991

ZrO2-Toughened Alumina-Ceramics (ZTA) with SiC Whisker as dispersive additive were prepared by pressureless sintering at 1$600^{\circ}C$ and 1$650^{\circ}C$ and by HIPing at 1$600^{\circ}C$ in Ar atmosphere. Effects of SiC-Whisker addition on microstuructural, mechanical, and thermal properties were investigated and the toughening mechanisms between theory and experiment were compared. Specimens with 15 vol% Whisker prepared by HIPing showed 8.26 MPa.ma1/2 in fracture toughness and 600 MPa in flexural strength owing to contribution of the three mechanisms such as crack deflection, whisker bridging and whisker pullout in spite of difference between the theoretical and experimental values due to the partial inhomogeneous dispersion of SiC-Whisker in the matrix and the processing flaw.

• The Korean Journal of Ceramics
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.12-18
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• 1999

Alumina matrix composites reinforced with up to 20vol% of aligned SiC whiskers were fabricated by tape casting and hot pressing. Alumina composited with randomly distribution SiC whiskers were also fabricated in order to investigate the effect of whisker alignment on properties of the composites. XRD and optical microscopy were used to examine the whisker orientation. The fracture toughness increased with increasing whisker content, and it was higher in the direction normal to the tape casting direction.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.14 no.9
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• pp.649-654
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• 2004

In this paper, the fracture toughness and mechanisms of failure in a random SiC-whisker/$Al_{2}O_3$ ceramic composite were investigated using in situ observations during mode I(opening) loading. $SiC_{w}/Al_{2}O_3$ composite was obtained by hot press sintering of $Al_{2}O_3$ powder and SiC whisker as the matrix and reinforcement, respectively. The whisker and powder were mixed using a turbo mill. The composite was produced at SiC whisker volume fraction of $0.3\%$. Compared with monolithic $Al_{2}O_3$, fracture toughness enhancement was observed in $SiC_{w}/Al_{2}O_3$ composite. This improved fracture toughness was attributed to SiC whisker bridging and crack deflection. $SiC_{w}/Al_{2}O_3$ composite exhibited typically brittle fracture behavior, but a fracture process zone was observed in this composite. This means that the load versus load-line displacement curve of $SiC_{w}/Al_{2}O_3$ composite from a fracture test may involve a small non-linear region near the peak load.

• The Korean Journal of Ceramics
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• v.2 no.4
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• pp.231-237
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• 1996

Mullite ceramics can be sintered by rf plasma sintering to densities as high as 97% compared to the theoretical density of the mullite, while SiC whisker-reinforced mullite matrix ceramic composites were not sintered by plasma sintering. Decomposition of mullite occurs in a superficial regins at the outside surface of the specimen by volatilization of SiO at elevated temperature by plasma. SiC whiskers were destroyed, and the matrix was converted to alumina from SiC-whisker reinforced mullite matrix ceramic composites during the plasma sintering. Accelerated volatilization from the SiC whisker in the mullite prevents sintering. The volatile species are mainly SiC and CO gas species. The effects of plasma on mullite and SiC-whisker reinforced mullite matrix composites are interpreted by thermodynamic simulation of the volatile species in the plasma environment. The thermodynamic results show that the decomposition will not occur during hot pressing.