材料期刊网

Two morphologically different composites comprising an alumina matrix and 20 vol. pct Fe particles have been fabricated by hot pressing technique. Two kinds of microstructures, i.e. a dispersive distribution of Fe particles and a network distribution of Fe particles in alumina matrix, have been produced. Both composites are tougher than the virgin alumina matrix. The fracture toughness of the composite with a network microstructure is much higher than the composite with a microstructure of dispersed particles. For the particulate dispersion microstructure, the main limitation to the toughening is the lack of plastic deformation of the ductile Fe due to the pull out of Fe particles, indicating weak bonding at the Al2O3/Fe interface. For the network microstructure composite, the gauge length of the ductile phase is much larger, allowing the ductile Fe to be stretched to failure between the crack faces. The weak bonding at Al2O3/Fe interface can promote partial debonding and contribute further to toughening in the network microstructure composite.