Abstract
Platelike BaMnAl11O19-α particles were grown in a Ce-TZP matrix by the solid-state reaction of Ce-TZP, BaCO3, MnCO3 and α-Al2O3 powders. The addition of Mn was found to be effective in lowering the formation temperature of single-phase barium hexaaluminate (BaMnAl11O19-α) by 400°C. The Ce-TZP/20 mass% BaMnAl11O19-α composites sintered above 1500°C had a homogeneous microstructure dispersed with BaMnAl11O19-α platelet crystals. BaAl12O19 crystals were found to form by the preferential diffusion of Ba2+ ions in the Ce-TZP matrix. The bending strength of Ce-TZP/20 mass% BaMnAl11O19-α composites sintered at above 1500°C was 575MPa which is slightly higher than that of Ce-TZP ceramics (500MPa).
