Development of alumina toughened zirconia-titanium diboride (ATZ-TiB2) ceramic composites for wear applications

Nowadays, ceramics with superior properties and many areas of use are being produced besides traditional ceramics. These ceramics are called technological ceramics, in other words fine ceramics. The most important characteristics that distinguish the fine ceramics from traditional ceramics are the artificial preparation of the raw material using various synthetic methods and the production of very thin powders in the form of powders. In this thesis, high temperature and abrasion resistant alumina hardened zirconia titanium diboride (ATZ-TiB2) ceramic composite was produced. For the production of ATZ-TiB2 composite material in equal molar amounts of Mg-Y-TZP (3 mol% Y2O3 and 8 mol% MgO) powder, 1% Alumina (Al2O3) by weight and 0.5%, 1%, 1.5%, 2% by weight TiB2 powders were added. In order to ensure homogeneity of the prepared mixture, the binders were added and mixed in the alcohol environment in the planetary mill. The resulting powder mixture was separated from the drying, sieving and shaping (uniaxial press and CIP) steps, followed by binder removal and sintering at the determined temperature values. Densities, hardnesstoughness, XRD and SEM analyzes of the samples were made. According to the results, ATZ-TiB2 composite production with desired mechanical properties was realized. It is concluded that this composite material produced can be used in industrial applications such as heat engines, power plants, cutting tools and friction in the automotive sector and construction of parts with high temperature. Keywords: ATZ-TiB2 ceramic composite, Mg-Y-TZP, Wear-resistant ceramics, Tetragonal Polycrystalline zirconia, technological ceramics.