Experimental procedure of Al2O3–SiC nanocomposite body with addition of small amount of MgO for hot-press sintering process is considered. For improving the densification behaviour and mechanical properties of this nanocomposite body, experimental variables such as sintering temperature, sintering duration, SiC vol%, and MgO amount were optimized. For optimization, many tests were conducted on the nanocomposite materials with different produce conditions to achieve the best physical and mechanical properties. Obviously, achieving the best condition for all the physical and mechanical properties at one time is unreachable matter; so concern is on the properties which are important at high-speed impacts. It was observed that specimen with 10 vol% SiC, 500 ppm MgO, sintering temperature of 1650 °C, sintering duration of 90 min, and sintering pressure of 30 MPa, had the optimum physical and mechanical properties.
NiiharaK.NakahiraA.Strengthening of oxide ceramics by SiC and Si3Ni4 dispersion. In Proceedings of the 3rd International Symposium on Ceramic materials and components for engines 3rd Int Symposium, 27–30 Nov. 1988Las Vegas27–30 November 1988, 919–926.
2.
Niihara K Nakahira A Sasaki G and Hirabayashi M Development of strong Al2O3/SiC composites In Proceedings of the 1st MRS International Meeting on Advanced Materials Tokyo Japan 2–3 June 1988, pp 129–134.
3.
NiiharaK.New design concept of structural ceramics—ceramic nanocomposites. J. Ceram. Soc. Jpn, 1991, 99, 974–982.
4.
DavidgeR. W.Effect of microstructure on the mechanical properties of ceramics. In Fracture mechanics of ceramics (Eds BradtR. C.HasselmanD. P. H.LangeF. F.), 1973, Vol. 2(Plenum Press, New York)447–468.
5.
WangH. Z.GaoL.GuoJ. K.The effect of nanoscale SiC particles on the microstructure of Al2O3 ceramics. Ceram. Int., 2000, 26, 391–396.
6.
Seong-MinChoi.HideoAwaji.Nanocomposites—a new material design concept. Sci. Technol. Adv. Mater., 2005, 6, 2–10.
MedvedovskiE.Alumina–mullite ceramics for structural applications. Ceram. Int, 2006, 32, 369–375.
9.
NeshporV. C.ZaitsevG. P.DovgalE. J.Armour ceramics ballistic efficiency evaluation. In Proceedings of the 8th CIMTEC on Ceramics: charting the future(Ed. VincenziniP.), 1994Florence, Italy, 28 June–4 July, 2395–2401. (TechnaS.r.l).
10.
KinslerL. E.FreyA. R.CoppensA. B.SandersJ. V.Fundamentals of acoustics, 2000ed.4(John Wiley and Sons Inc, New York, USA)
11.
WangJ.LimS. Y.NgS. C.ChewC. H.GanL. M.Dramatic effect of a small amount of MgO addition on the sintering of Al2O3-5 vol% SIC nanocomposite. Mater. Lett., 1998, 33, 273–277.
12.
RittidechA.PortiaL.BongkarnT.The relationship between microstructure and mechanical properties of Al2O3–MgO ceramics. Mater. Sci. Engng A, 2006438–440–395–398.
13.
TakayasuIkegami.NobuoIyi.IsaoSakaguchi.Influence of magnesia on sintering stress of alumina. Ceram. Int., 2010, 36, 1143–1146.
14.
BennisonS. J.HarmerM. P.Grain-growth kinetics for alumina in the absence of a liquid phase. J. Am. Ceram. Soc., 1985, 68(1), C-22–C-24.
15.
WarmanM. O.BudworthD. W.Residual gas effects on the sintering of alumina to theoretical density in vacuum. Trans. Br. Ceram. Soc., 1967, 66, 265–271.
16.
JohnsonW. C.CobleR. L.A test of the second-phase and impurity-segregation models for MgO-enhanced densification of sintered alumina. J. Am. Ceram. Soc., 1978, 61(3–4), 110–114.
17.
TaylorR. I.CoadJ. P.BrookR. J.Grain boundary segregation in Al2O3. J. Am. Ceram. Soc, 1974, 57(12), 539–540.
18.
WangH. Z.GaoL.GuiL. H.GuoJ. K.Preparation and properties of intragranular Al2O3-SiC nanocomposites. Nanostruct. Mater., 1998, 10(6), 947–953.
19.
ASTM B311 - 93(2002)el - Test method for density determination for powder metallurgy (P/M) materials containing less than two percent porosity, developed by Subcommittee, B09.11, Book of Standards Volume: 02.05, 2002.
20.
ASTM C1161 - 02c (2008) el - Standard test method for flexural strength of advanced ceramics at ambient temperature, developed by Subcommittee, C28.01, Book of Standards Volume: 15.01, 2008.
21.
ASTM C1327 - 08 - Standard test method for Vickers indentation hardness of advanced ceramics, developed by Subcommittee, C28.01, Book of Standards Volume: 15.01, 2008.
22.
ASTM C790 - 07el - Standard test method for flexural properties of unreinforced and reinforced plastics and electrical insulating materials, developed by Subcommittee, C20.10, Book of Standards Volume: 08.01, 2007.
23.
AnatisG. R.ChantikulP.LawnB. R.MarshallD. B.A critical evaluation of indention techniques for measuring fracture toughness: I, Direct crack measurements. J. Am. Ceram. Soc, 1981, 64(9), 533–538.
24.
SergoV.WangX. L.ClarkeD. R.BecherP. F.Residual stresses in alumina/ceria stabilized zirconia composite. J. Am. Ceram. Soc, 1995, 78(8), 2213–2214.
25.
AsadiA.SadoughA.Investigation of the impact behavior of Al2O3-SiC-MgO nanoceramic/metal laminated composite. 19–21 October 2010, Proceedings of the 11th Iranian Conference on Manufacturing engineering, Tabriz, Iran, 292–923.
26.
AsadiA.SadoughA.JabbariA.Investigation of the impact behavior of Al2O3-SiC-MgO nanoceramic/metal laminated composite. J. Mech. Sci. Technol., 2011,25(9),1–6, .
