METHOD FOR PRODUCING A SURFACE-TOUGHENED CERAMIC COMPOSITE

摘要

A novel method for producing surface-toughened ceramics by infiltration, using a sol or solution of a polymorphic ceramic material such as zirconium oxide. Porous ceramic compacts are infiltrated with the sol or solution by introducing the sol or solution into the compact under vacuum or by using pore pressure. Properties of the infiltrated ceramics may be optimized by varying parameters, including pore size distribution and volume of porosity of the porous compact, the viscosity of the ceramic sol or solution used for infiltration, and the number of infiltration cycles. The ceramic composites which are produced contain zirconium oxide retained in metastable phase near the surface of the composite, and exhibit high strength.