• Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society
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• v.38 no.12
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• pp.1080-1084
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• 2001

Alumina-based nanocomposites have improved mechanical properties such as hardness, fracture toughness and fracture strength compared to monolithic ceramics. In this study, alumina with 5 vol% of nanosized SiC was sintered by a hot pressing technique at 1600$\^{C}$, 30 MPa for 1h in an argon gas atmosphere. Microstructures and mechanical properties in alumina-SiC nanocomposite were investigated. Moreover, tribological properties in air and water were compared each other. Relationships of wear properties with mechanical properties such as hardness, strength, and fracture toughness as well as microstructure were studied. Based on experimental results it was found that nanosized SiC retarded grain growth of matrix alumina. Mechanical properties such as hardness, fracture toughness and strength were improved by the addition of nanosized SiC in alumina. Improved mechanical properties resulted in increased sliding wear resistance. Tribological behavior of nanocomposites in water seemed to be governed by abrasive wear.