Characteristics of Al₂O₃-SiC Nanocomposite Prepared by Sol-Gel Processing

Abstract

Al₂O₃-SiC nanocomposite powders containing small crystalline SiC powders have been prepared by sol-gel processing. Less than 50nm ultrasonic dispersion and sedimentation techniques were used in the presence of an organic solvent to remove the agglomerates of SiC. Homogeneous SiC powders with narrow size distributions were mixed with an Al₂O₃ sol. The characteristics of the nanocomposite powder as well as microstructure of the sintered Al₂O₃-SiC nanocomposite were investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Sol-gel processing was shown to produce Al₂O₃-SiC nanocomposites with homogeneous distribution of SiC in the Al₂O₃ matrix.