Effect Of Sintering Temperature And Soaking Time On Microstructure And Mechanical Properties Of Alumina- Zirconia Cutting Tool

Rostam, Nur Ayuni (2019) Effect Of Sintering Temperature And Soaking Time On Microstructure And Mechanical Properties Of Alumina- Zirconia Cutting Tool. Project Report. UTeM, Melaka, Malaysia. (Submitted)

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Abstract

This research identified the effect of soaking time and sintering temperature on the mechanical properties and microstructure of alumina-zirconia cutting tool. It is known alumina can be used for cutting tool application as it is able to produce good surface quality and has high-temperature performance and hardness. However, alumina also has lower toughness and easily brittle which in turn, cause catastrophic failure and chipping. These properties are not suitable for cutting tool application. Thus, zirconia was added in alumina matrix to enhance alumina mechanical properties which include, improving its fracture toughness. But, there is still a lack of studies based on sintering temperature greater than 1500℃ with soaking time. So, this research was focused on the fabrication of the alumina-zirconia cutting tool and to investigate the mechanical properties such as hardness, density, wear resistance and microstructure with respect to the sintering temperature and soaking time. The composition of powder mixture, 80 wt % alumina + 20 wt % yttria stabilized zirconia (YSZ) was mixed using ball mill machine with additional of polyethylene glycol (PEG) as a binder agent. Then, the samples were pressed using a hydraulic hand press machine under 10 tons pressure and eventually, the samples were compacted through the cold isostatic pressing method with 300 MPa pressure. Next, the green compacts were sintered in the range of 1500℃ to 1700℃ with a range of a soaking time from 4 hours to 6 hours. The sintered samples were then proceeded for hardness, density, tribology test specifically, wear test and microstructure using Vickers hardness tester, electronic densimeter, micro pin-on-disc tribotester and scanning electron microscope (SEM) respectively. The data collected from the testing were then analysed and discussed. The results showed the sintering temperature at 1500℃, 6 hours soaking time produced smaller grain size, maximum density and hardness of 4.0916g/cm3 and 1321.23 Hv respectively. It is also found that the maximum coefficient of friction recorded was 0.28 at 1600℃ sintering temperature and soaking time of 5 hours.

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