Reproducibility of Properties of the Zirconia-Based Composites

This paper presents results of investigations on the reproducibility of the properties of important refractory matrix composites used in aerospace industry. The method of fabrication was electroconsolidation, which was a modified version of Spark Plasma Sintering (SPS) with directly applied alternating current. The composites were sintered out of zirconia nanopowder, which served either as a reinforcement in alumina matrix, or as a matrix reinforced with SiC nanofibers. In order to keep the sintering conditions repeatable, measurements of linear compaction, temperature and pressure were applied. The results demonstrated that the accuracy of measurements was sufficient to ensure repeatable properties of the sintered composites.